ISS-RapidScat

ISS-RapidScat was an instrument mounted to the International Space Station's Columbus module that measured wind speeds.

[3] The ISS-RapidScat program was initiated in response to the failure of the QuikSCAT satellite's antenna rotation mechanism in November 2009.

[2] By the time of ISS-RapidScat's launch, the European Space Agency's MetOp series were the only two satellites with fully functioning scatterometers in orbit.

[3] Objectives of the ISS-RapidScat program were to mitigate the loss of and provide continuity of wind data products from the QuikSCAT SeaWinds instrument, to serve as a calibration standard for the international constellation of scatterometer-equipped satellites, and to sample the diurnal and semi-diurnal wind variations that occur between ISS flight latitudes at least every two months.

[4][2] The scatterometer was launched as external cargo aboard the SpaceX CRS-4 mission on 21 September 2014, attached to the unpressurized section of the Dragon capsule.

[15] On 13 January 2018, the trunk section and ISS-RapidScat re-entered Earth's atmosphere and were destroyed as planned, while the Dragon capsule and its cargo landed in the Pacific Ocean and were recovered.

Depiction of ISS-RapidScat's location on ISS and its operation
ISS-RapidScat data from October 2014
ISS-RapidScat returned data on weather like Typhoon Vongfong , pictured here as seen from ISS in 2014