The Copernicus Imaging Microwave Radiometer (CIMR) is one of the six Copernicus Expansion Missions currently being implemented by the European Space Agency and the European Commission. CIMR will provide low-frequency, high spatial resolution microwave imaging radiometry measurements with high radiometric fidelity. To address Copernicus user needs, derived Level-1 and Level2 data products will have global coverage and sub-daily revisit in the polar regions and adjacent seas. The mission is specifically designed to provide measurement evidence in support of developing, implementing, and monitoring the impact of the European Integrated Policy for the Arctic which is changing rapidly due to climate change and Arctic amplification. This paper presents an overview of the CIMR mission implementation (now in Phase C/D) and reports the latest scientific simulation developments.

The Copernicus Imaging Microwave Radiometer (CIMR) is one of the six Copernicus Expansion Missions currently being implemented by the European Space Agency and the European Commission. The mission is specifically designed to provide measurement evidence in support of developing, implementing, and monitoring the impact of the European Integrated Policy for the Arctic. The Arctic region is changing more rapidly than anywhere else in the world due to climate change and Arctic amplification. CIMR provides microwave imaging radiometry measurements at low-frequency (L-,C-,X-, K- and Ka-band) with relatively high spatial resolution and high radiometric fidelity. To address Copernicus user needs, derived Level-1 and Level2 data products will have global coverage and sub-daily revisit in the polar regions and adjacent seas. This paper presents an overview of key mission requirements [11] that underpin the CIMR mission implementation (now in Phase C/D). Two satellites are now in preparation (CIMR-A and CIMR-B) to be launched sequentially separated by ~7 years starting in 2028/29.

The Copernicus Imaging Microwave Radiometer (CIMR) mission is one of the six Copernicus Expansion (CopEx) Missions [1], that are part of the Copernicus Space Component being implemented by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission (COM). The mission responds to Copernicus User needs embodied in Mission Requirements [3] by providing high-spatial resolution low-frequency microwave imaging radiometry measurements and derived products. Continuous global coverage every day with sub-daily revisit in the polar regions and adjacent seas is necessary to address Copernicus user needs. The primary mission requirements [3] are to acquire global observations to address Sea Ice Concentration (SIC) and Sea Surface Temperature (SST) with secondary requirements covering a very wide number of parameters related to EU Arctic Policy. For more information about Mission requirement see [2] and [3].The mission can be considered a "game changer" for global and polar region observations, thanks to features such as•All weather, day/night imaging capability;•multi-frequency (L to Ka), simultaneous acquisitions;•Unrivaled spatial resolution (5…<60km);•Excellent radiometric accuracy/resolution and stability;•Global coverage, "no hole at the pole", sub-daily (6h) revisit.The paper provides and overview of the Project and System implementation following the successful System and Instrument Preliminary Design Review (PDR) held on October 2022.

Copernicus [http://www.copernicus.eu/] is a European system for monitoring the Earth in support of European policy. It includes Earth Observation satellites (notably the Sentinel series developed by ESA) that form part of the Copernicus Space Component of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission (COM). The Copernicus Imaging Microwave Radiometer (CIMR) mission is one of six Copernicus Expansion (CopEx) Missions that address emerging and urgent needs for new types of observations and will have a particular focus on monitoring Polar regions.The primary mission objectives of CIMR [2] are to measure Sea Ice Concentration (SIC) and Sea Ice Extent (SIE) at a spatial resolution of 5 km and Sea Surface Temperature (SST) at a spatial resolution of 15 km with a focus on sub-daily coverage of Polar Regions and daily coverage of Adjacent Seas. In addition, CIMR has to ensure European operational continuity of L-band measurement capability in synergy with other missions (e.g. MetOp-SG) to enhance monitoring of the Polar Regions and Adjacent Seas.Following the successful System and Instrument Preliminary Design Review (PDR) held on October 2022, this paper focusses on the CIMR Instrument architecture and performance. For more details on the CIMR mission [2] and CIMR project, please consult [3] and [4], respectively.

The Copernicus programme [1] is a European system for monitoring the Earth in support of European policy as developed by the European Commission (COM). It includes Earth Observation (EO) satellites (notably the Sentinel series developed by the European Space Agency (ESA)) that form part of the Copernicus Space Component (CSC). The Copernicus Imaging Microwave Radiometer (CIMR) mission [2] is one of six Copernicus Expansion (CopEx) Missions [3] that address emerging and urgent needs for new types of global coverage observations with a particular focus on monitoring Polar regions.

The Copernicus Imaging Microwave Radiometer (CIMR) is one of the Copernicus High Priority Candidate mission recently approved at the ESA (European Space Agency) Ministerial Council 2019 as a reply to climate policy set by the European Commission in cooperation with ESA. CIMR is a conically scanning multi-frequency radiometer that will deploy a wide-swath with world global coverage with particular attention to the Arctic and Antarctic regions. CIMR measurements will be made using a forward scan arc followed by a second measurement using a backward scan arc. This paper will provide an overall system view of the mission in particular discussing main technical challenges. The mission is being developed in the frame of Copernicus ESA-EU partnership.

In the framework of its activities in the field of Earth Observation, the Italian Space Agency (ASI) in 2007 have started the design, development and deployment of the PRISMA mission. PRISMA (PRecursore IperSpettrale della Missione Operativa) is the follow-on of previous programmes, either national (HypSeo, phase A/B) or international (JHM phase A, in cooperation with Canada) devoted to establish requirements, technologies and conceptual design of a satellite Remote Sensing Hyperspectral mission. The program is completely funded by ASI until the completion of system on-orbit commissioning. The selected industrial consortium includes all the key national industries, which have already acquired specific know-how and expertise. The mission will provide worldwide access, with a specific area of interest covering the whole European and Mediterranean region. Hyperspectral data will help to efficiently address the selected applications, such as those related to quality and protection of the environment, sustainable development, climate change, strong economy; according to its "public good" nature, PRISMA will focus on the needs of the Italian institutional and research entities