About Us

The MISR Science Team is the group of scientists who provide the scientific guidance for specifying and overseeing the building of the MISR instrument, and who provide leadership for the scientific use of the data acquired from MISR. Some of their principal tasks include calibrating the instrument after it has been launched into Earth orbit, and developing the physical and mathematical algorithms for processing MISR data after it reaches the ground, as well as carrying out scientific research using data from MISR.

The leader of the Science Team is called the Principal Investigator, whereas the other team members are called Co-investigators. The Co-investigators are drawn from a variety of Earth science disciplines, so that each has a unique role in the MISR experiment.

The MISR Project Team was assembled at JPL to implement the MISR instrument and its associated science and data system support capabilities. The overall work is led by the MISR Project Manager, who heads a Project Office that draws on the expertise of the various JPL technical divisions. Organizationally, the Project Team encompasses three distinct teams of people:

1. The instrument development team. Staff were drawn from several JPL divisions, covering a wide range of expertise in the areas of optics, mechanisms, structures, electronics, real-time computing, system integration, and system test.
2. The data system team. This team's major deliverable is the ground software for generating MISR data products. This team also has direct responsibility for the MISR geometric algorithms and geometric calibration. It carries out instrument operations system engineering, operations tools development, and instrument/mission routine operations.. It is responsible for the MISR science computing facility, including backup MISR processing capabilities for the mission.
3. The science development team. This team addresses science algorithm development, algorithm verification and validation, instrument calibration, mission science coordination, software support, facilities support, scientific research, and oversight of AirMISR. It also provides science-related and administrative support to the the MISR Science Team.