JPL
Careers
Education
Science & Technology
JPL Logo
JPL Logo

Active Cavity Irradiance Monitor Satellite

AcrimSat

The Active Cavity Irradiance Monitor Satellite, or AcrimSat, mission spent 14 years in orbit monitoring Earth's main energy source, radiation from the sun, and its impacts on our planet.

Mission Statistics

Launch Date

Dec 20, 1999

Type

Orbiter

Target

Earth

Status

Past

About the mission

The Active Cavity Irradiance Monitor Satellite, or AcrimSat, mission spent 14 years in orbit monitoring Earth's main energy source, radiation from the sun, and its impacts on our planet. The satellite's ACRIM 3 instrument was the third in a series of satellite experiments that have contributed to a critical data set for understanding Earth's climate: a 36-year, continuous satellite record of variations in total solar radiation reaching Earth, or total solar irradiance. Solar irradience creates winds, heats the land and drives ocean currents, and therefore contains significant data that climatologists can use to improve predictions of climate change and global warming.

Launched on Dec. 21, 1999, for a planned five-year mission, AcrimSat went silent on Dec. 14, 2013. Attempts since then to reestablish contact have been unsuccessful. The venerable satellite most likely suffered an expected, age-related battery failure.

Data from the mission helped researchers formulate global climate models and study solar physics.

Instruments

  • Active Cavity Irradiance Monitor 3 (ACRIM 3)

Mission Highlights

Jan 01, 2005

AcrimSat completes its five-year primary mission and begins operating under its extended mission.

Dec 14, 2013

AcrimSat goes silent and attempts to reestablish contact are unsuccessful. The loss of contact is likely due to an expected, age-related battery failure. The mission officially came to an end on Aug. 8, 2014.
Target: Earth
› Press Kit

Explore Other Missions

Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer

Microwave Limb Sounder

Interplanetary Nano-Spacecraft Pathfinder in Relevant Environment

Mars Exploration Rover - Spirit

Airborne Visible-Infrared Imaging Spectrometer - Next Generation

Microwave Instrument for the Rosetta Orbiter

Planck

GEO-CAPE ROIC In-Flight Performance Experiment

Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment

Mars Global Surveyor

About JPL
Who We Are
Executive Council
Directors of JPL
JPL History
Documentary Series
Virtual Tour
Annual Reports
Missions
All
Current
Past
Future
News
All
Earth
Mars
Solar System
Universe
Technology
Galleries
Images
Videos
Audio
Podcasts
Infographics
Visions of the Future
Slice of History
Engage
JPL and the Community
Lecture Series
Public Tours
Events
Team Competitions
JPL Speakers Bureau
Topics
Solar System
Mars
Earth
Climate Change
Stars and Galaxies
Exoplanets
Technology
JPL Life
For Media
Contacts and Information
Press Kits
More
Asteroid Watch
Robotics at JPL
Subscribe to Newsletter
Universe Newsletter
Social Media
RSS
Get the Latest from JPL
Follow Us

JPL is a federally funded research and development center managed for NASA by Caltech.

More from JPL
Careers Education Science & Technology Acquisitions JPL Store
Careers
Education
Science & Technology
Acquisitions
JPL Store
Related NASA Sites
Basics of Spaceflight
Climate Kids
Earth / Global Climate Change
Exoplanet Exploration
Mars Exploration
Solar System Exploration
Space Place
NASA's Eyes Visualization Project
Voyager Interstellar Mission
NASA
Caltech
Privacy
Image Policy
FAQ
Feedback
Site Manager: Veronica McGregor
Site Editors: Tony Greicius, Randal Jackson, Naomi Hartono