TROUBLE-FREE AFTER TWO DECADES: KNMI DIRECTOR PRAISES OMI'S STABILITY

The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute's Principal Investigator, Pieternel Levelt, delivered an update on board the EOS Aura spacecraft's ultraviolet–visible spectrometer, OMI, marking 22 years of continuous operation. The presentation came as a tribute to Johan de Vries, who recently passed away, leaving the OMI and TROPOMI teams in shock.

According to Levelt, thanks to its thoughtful design, rigorous maintenance measures implemented shortly after launch, and steady optical bench temperature, OMI "has aged gracefully." Notably, lessons learned from integrating OMI on the Aura spacecraft have indirectly contributed to the success of its follow-up mission, TROPOMI. By adopting strategies such as reinforced charged couple device shielding and systematic monitoring of partial Earth-view port blockages, OMI has set a high standard for atmospheric research instruments.

The remarkable stability and reliability of OMI demonstrate the effectiveness of pre-launch contamination control measures and the dedication of the team that developed this groundbreaking instrument. As Levelt acknowledged, Johan de Vries was an integral part of this mission, making his untimely passing even more poignant. Despite this loss, it is heartening to see the lessons from OMI remain relevant for future generations of scientists working with atmospheric research instruments.