They are not even using the 4MB as it is. It takes time to download an image, and apparently they are more interested in what they call 'downlink cadence' - num

They are not even using the 4MB as it is. It takes time to download an image, and apparently they are more interested in what they call 'downlink cadence' - number of images per hour. I don't know enough about the science to say what the desired resolution would be - meaning, would a 50MB sensor actually produce better science for the mission of the DSCOVR (clearly it could be used for other science once you get the resolution good enough). The specifics are here: http://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/DSCOVR/pdf/DSCOVR%20-%20EPIC%20Instrument%20Info%20Sheet.pdf http://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/DSCOVR/pdf/DSCOVR%20-%20EPIC%20In... Also, DSCOVR was initially built for the Triana mission in the late 90s, and it's main purpose was just to serve live-ish images on the internet. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_Space_Climate_Observatory https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_Space_Climate_Observatory)