EO·Atlas
MWS Microwave Sounder
Compiled from public sources on 2026-06-11. Not independently verified by Airbus Defence and Space.
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MWS is a cross-track passive microwave sounder for temperature and humidity profiling on MetOp-SG.
MWS (Microwave Sounder) is a cross-track passive microwave radiometer developed by Airbus Defence and Space for the MetOp Second Generation (MetOp-SG) satellite series. It operates 24 channels spanning 23.8 GHz to 229 GHz, covering surface emission windows, oxygen absorption bands near 50-58 GHz for temperature profiling, and water-vapour absorption bands near 183 GHz for humidity profiling.[1] Swath width is 2300 km with an IFOV ranging from 17 km to 40 km depending on channel.[1] Instrument mass is 132 kg and average power consumption is 137 W.[1]
MWS flew for the first time on MetOp-SG A1, launched on Ariane 6 in August 2025.[2] It is planned for MetOp-SG A2 and A3. MWS combines the temperature-sounding role of AMSU-A and the humidity-sounding role of MHS on MetOp first-generation satellites, providing those measurements in a single 24-channel instrument.[1]
Compositional position
- Microwave atmospheric sounding
MWS provides passive microwave atmospheric temperature and humidity sounding.
None on record.
- [1]WMO OSCAR - MWS Microwave Sounder instrument recordagency doc2026-06-11
- [2]MetOp-SG Mission Overview, eoPortalcommunity2026-06-11
- [3]MetOp-SG A1 successful launch, Airbus press release 2025-08operator press2026-06-11