The Terra flight operations team successfully conducted Constellation Exit Maneuvers (CEMs) to lower the Terra satellite to an altitude of 694 km by performing retrograde maneuvers on October 12 and 19, 2022. To prepare for the maneuvers, data acquisitions ceased on day 283 (October 10).
Terra MODIS
Following the CEMs, the space and nadir view doors for Terra's Moderate Resolution Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument were opened on October 21, and the formatter resumed nominal day/night mode operations from October 22. All instrument temperatures had attained their nominal values by October 23. Assessments carried out by the MODIS validation team now indicate nominal performance and no major cause for concerns, barring slight gain changes that have been noticed for some of the Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) bands (mainly for Band 5), and a possible slight change in cross-talk behaviors for some of the photovoltaic (PV) long-wave infrared (LWIR) detectors. The gain changes in the SWIR bands should have been addressed by the updated L1B Look Up Tables (LUTs) that were used to resume production. MODIS Terra forward processing was successfully resumed from day 296 (October 23) 22:35 UTC, using the updated L1B LUTs that were delivered by the MODIS Calibration team.
Terra ASTER
The Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) resumed data acquisitions on October 19, 2022.
Additional Resources
- Learn more about Terra’s orbital drift: Terra Orbital Drift Information
- View Terra orbit drift visualization: Terra Orbit Drift Visualization
- Read about Terra’s eventual decommissioning: From Terra to Terra Firma
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