The AWS mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) will provide global Earth coverage to improve nowcasting and numerical weather modelling. Equipped with a lateral microwave radiometer, the mission will provide measurements of atmospheric humidity and temperature.
The AWS is a microwave sounder developed by OHB Sweden under ESA funding. AAC Omnisys (Omnisys Instruments AB) is the prime contractor for the instrument and is responsible for the development of a microwave radiometer with 19 frequency channels. The radiometer is divided into three heterodyne microwave receivers and a direct detector.
MACCON supplies AAC Omnisys with the motor for the mechanism that moves the rotating main reflector of the microwave radiometer. The scanning mechanism with ensures a constant rotational speed of around 0.8 Hz. This results in scan angles between ±60° of NADIR.
