ODIN will work in unexplored bands of the electromagnetic spectrum, around wavelengths of 0.5 mm and 3 mm. These contain emission lines from important molecules such as water vapour, molecular oxygen, ozone and carbone monoxide. The lines will be used as tools to study processes in the Earth's atmosphere and in astronomical objects. Complementary information on the atmosphere will come from spectral lines at ultraviolet and optical wavelengths. Major scientific issues relate to star formation processes, interstellar chemistry and atmospheric ozone balance.

For aeronomy, the spacecraft will follow the Earth limb - scanning the atmosphere up and down from 15 to 120 km at a rate of up to 40 scans per orbit (each scanning takes 2 minutes).
When observing astronomical sources, ODIN will be continuously pointing towards the object for up to 60 minutes.

Main orbit characteristics