Michelson Interferometer for Global High-resolution Thermospheric Imaging

Naval Research Laboratory
Washington DC

The MIGHTI instrument measures the horizontal wind speed and direction (the wind vector). Each MIGHTI unit measures the wind along its line of sight. Two discrete MIGHTI units, their views separated by 90˚, are mounted on the ICON Payload Interface Plate. Combining data from both units, this 90˚ separation between their views allows the wind vector to be determined.

The primary objective of the MIGHTI interferometer is to determine the altitude profile of the atmospheric wind and temperature in the Earth’s upper atmosphere.