|
CryoSat
|
- Radar Altimetry Mission with different novel observation techniques
- Synthetic Aperture Processing along-track to increase resolution
- Interferometric Observations across-track with second antenna for steeper terrain slopes
- Observation of elevation changes over ice sheets, glaciers and ice caps
|
 |
|
Characteristics
|
| Launch Date |
2005 |
| Mission duration |
3 years |
| Orbit |
non Sun-synchronous |
| Altitude |
ca. 720 km |
| Inclination |
92 deg |
|
|
|
|
Ice Age is coming
|
 CryoSat is a three-year radar altimetry mission,
scheduled for launch in early 2005, to determine variations in the thickness of the Earth’s continental
ice sheets and marine ice cover. Its primary objective is to test the prediction of thinning arctic ice due to global warming.
|
|
|
|
|
Radar payload
|
The CryoSat altimeter will provide an instrument for the ice sheet interiors, the ice sheet margins,
for sea ice and other topography. The altimeter is designed with two receiving antennas forming an interferometer
in the across-track direction. In addition, the return signal in along-track direction is processed to construct a synthetic
aperture for enhanced ground resolution.
In principal three operative modes are foreseen for different areas of observation:
Conventional pulse-limited operation for the ice sheet interiors (and oceans if desired),
Synthetic aperture operation for sea icen and
Dual-channel synthetic aperture/interferometric operation for ice sheet margins
|
|
|
|
|
| ©Copyright 2004 LSE Space Engineering & Operations AG |
|
|
|
The text, pictures, images, graphics and other items provided by this LSE web site are copyrighted by LSE or by the other owners of the respective items on this site. Despite careful control of external links we can not take responsibility for the content of these web sites. Responsibility for external web sites remains with the individual operator. webmaster@lsespace.com
|
|
