The Coriolis satellite is a Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) and Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Earth and space observation satellite launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, on January 6, 2003, at 14:19 GMT.

WINDSAT is a joint Integrated Program Office/Department of Defense demonstration project, intended to measure ocean surface wind speed and wind direction from space using a polarimetric radiometer.

WINDSAT was developed and managed by the Space Test Program at Kirtland AFB in New Mexico, designed for a three-year lifetime.

It is primarily designed to measure ocean surface wind direction (nonprecipitating conditions) with a 25-km spatial resolution.

Secondary measurements are Sea surface temperature, soil moisture, rain rate, ice and snow characteristics and water vapor.