The multi-angle imaging spectroradiometer (MISR) instrument is currently under development for flight on the first earth observing system platform, EOS-AM1, to be launched in 1998. The instrument will obtain global multi-angle imagery at nine separate view angles, using a separate charge-coupled-device pushbroom camera at each angle. Images will be obtained at 443, 555, 670, and 865 nm with spatial sampling, selectable in-flight, ranging from 275 m to 2.2 km. Data from the instrument will be used to retrieve the optical properties of tropospheric aerosols over land and ocean, to study the bidirectional reflectance properties of the Earth's surface and clouds, and to measure terrain topography and cloud heights. This paper reviews the MISR science objectives, presents an update to some of the instrument design parameters, and discusses the status of the instrument design and development. Test results from a recently built `brassboard' prototype camera are discussed.