Preliminary results of GIMS-II (Geostationary interferometric microwave sounder-second generation) demonstrator

The Geostationary Interferometric Microwave Sounder (GIMS) is millimeter wave imaging sounder concept proposed for China's next generation geostationary meteorological satellite (FY-4M). GIMS is supposed to utilize a rotating circular thinned array, instead of a stationary Y-shape array, to reduce the required number of the antenna elements. A proof-of-concept 53GHz ground-based GIMS demonstrator with 28 elements has been successfully developed and tested during 2009~2012. A new GIMS demonstrator development plan has been approved for further risk mitigation. A 70 element demonstrator is foreseen to be finished before the end of first quarter of 2017. In this paper, recent progresses on the ongoing demonstration activities will be summarized. The preliminary imaging and performance evaluation results of the GIMS-II demonstrator will also be presented.