Welcome to the CloudSat Data Processing Center! The DPC is run by the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA), a research institute at Colorado State University. After the CloudSat satellite is positioned in its orbit, it will begin taking measurments of cloud reflectivity with a 94 GHz cloud radar.

CloudSat will orbit the Earth approximately once every 1 1/2 hours. During its orbit, it will pass over ground stations belonging to the Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN) where the data will be downloaded on each overpass. The data will then be sent to Albuquerque, New Mexico where data quality checks will be performed. After the quality checks are performed, the data will be transmitted via the internet to the DPC in Fort Collins, Colorado where it will be sent through the data processing system to create a number of science data products. The image to the right shows the ground stations of the AFSCN.

For a more technical description of the CloudSat mission and the Data Processing Center click the DPC System Description link above.