Sensor · Spaceborne

EMIT (Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation Imaging Spectrometer)

Missions → EMIT ISS deployment (Extended operations)

EMIT is a NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Dyson-design pushbroom hyperspectral imaging spectrometer hosted on the International Space Station ExPRESS Logistics Carrier 1 for mapping mineral composition in arid dust source regions. It covers 380-2500 nm across approximately 285 contiguous bands at 7.4 nm spectral sampling, with 60 m ground sample distance, an 80 km swath, and ISS-limited coverage of approximately 52 S to 52 N.

Sensor

EMIT (Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation Imaging Spectrometer) is a NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Dyson-design pushbroom hyperspectral imaging spectrometer hosted on the International Space Station ExPRESS Logistics Carrier 1.^[1] The instrument covers 380 to 2500 nm across approximately 285 contiguous bands at 7.4 nm spectral sampling, with 60 m ground sample distance and an 80 km swath.^[2] Its primary science role is mapping mineral composition in arid dust source regions so dust radiative forcing can be quantified from observed surface mineralogy.^[1]

EMIT launched aboard SpaceX CRS-25 on 14 July 2022, and its extended mission was approved in April 2023 with operations active through at least 2026.^[1] The International Space Station orbit limits coverage to approximately 52 S to 52 N. EMIT L2B Estimated Mineral Identification identifies ten key mineral classes, including kaolinite, illite, montmorillonite, calcite, dolomite, hematite, and goethite.^[3]

Methodology	Evidence class	Demonstrated via	Source
hyperspectral-classification	demonstrated	emit-iss	^[2]
swir-absorption-point-source	demonstrated	emit-iss	^[4]

Operator pricing

Pricing not publicly listed by operator

Supply chain position

carried by EMIT ISS deployment

Methods this sensor implements

Demonstrated

SWIR absorption - global screening

Capable, undemonstrated

None on record.

Topics this relates to

CO2 SWIR absorption - global screening(demonstrated)well suited

Greenhouse gas inventory SWIR absorption - global screening(demonstrated)well suited

Industrial emissions SWIR absorption - global screening(demonstrated)well suited

Methane (CH4)SWIR absorption - global screening(demonstrated)well suited

Pipeline integrity SWIR absorption - global screening(demonstrated)adequate

Stratospheric ozone SWIR absorption - global screening(demonstrated)unsuitable

Sources

[1]EMIT Instrument Specifications, NASA JPLagency doc2026-05-25
[2]EMIT Instrument Overview, NASA JPLagency doc2026-05-25
[3]Optical Design of the EMIT Imaging Spectrometer, NASA NTRSagency doc2026-05-25
[4]EMIT L1B Radiance User Guide, LP DAACagency doc2026-05-25
[5]EMIT Greenhouse Gas Algorithms Theoretical Basis Document v1.0, NASA JPLagency doc2026-05-25

Cite https://eo-atlas.org/products/sensor/emit Markdown twin → Field definitions → Suggest a correction →

How to cite this page

Plain text

EMIT (Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation Imaging Spectrometer). EO-Atlas, SpectraWorks B.V., last reviewed 2026-05-25. https://eo-atlas.org/products/sensor/emit (CC BY 4.0)

BibTeX

@misc{eoatlas:products:sensor:emit,
  title = {EMIT (Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation Imaging Spectrometer)},
  author = {{EO-Atlas}},
  publisher = {SpectraWorks B.V.},
  year = {2026},
  note = {Last reviewed 2026-05-25. CC BY 4.0},
  url = {https://eo-atlas.org/products/sensor/emit}
}