The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) is a joint mission between NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) designed to monitor and study tropical rainfall. The original satellite was launched Nov. 27, 1997, from Japan's Tanegashima Space Center. The satellite, which orbits in a low earth orbit, uses the TRMM Microwave Imager to measure precipitation. It also has a precipitation radar (PR), a visible infrared scanner (VIRS), the Clouds and the Earths Radiant Energy System (CERES), and a lightning imaging sensor (LIS). Final data is compiled from all theses sources and well as all other available satellite and ground data.