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CryoSat-2

CryoSat-2
CryoSat.jpg
Artist's impression of CryoSat in orbit
Mission type Earth observation
Operator ESA
COSPAR ID 2010-013A
SATCAT no. 36508
Website www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Cryosat/index.html
Mission duration 3 years (planned)
Elapsed: 7 years, 26 days
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer EADS Astrium
Launch mass 720 kilograms (1,590 lb)
Dry mass 684 kilograms (1,508 lb)
Dimensions 4.6 by 2.3 metres (15.1 ft × 7.5 ft)
Power 850 watts
Start of mission
Launch date 8 April 2010, 13:57:04 (2010-04-08UTC13:57:04Z) UTC
Rocket Dnepr
Launch site Baikonur 109/95
Contractor ISC Kosmotras
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Low Earth
Perigee 718 kilometres (446 mi)
Apogee 732 kilometres (455 mi)
Inclination 92.03 degrees
Period 99.16 minutes
Epoch 24 January 2015, 20:44:24 UTC
Transponders
Band S Band (TT&C support)
X Band (science data acquisition)
Bandwidth 8kbit/s download (S Band)
100Mbit/s download (X Band)
2kbit/s upload (S Band)

CryoSat-2 mission insignia
ESA Earth insignia for the CryoSat-2 mission

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CryoSat-2 mission insignia
ESA Earth insignia for the CryoSat-2 mission

CryoSat-2 is a European Space Agency environmental research satellite which was launched in April 2010. It provides scientists with data about the polar ice caps and tracks changes in the thickness of the ice with a resolution of about 1.3 centimetres (12 in).

CryoSat-2 was built as a replacement for CryoSat-1, whose Rokot carrier rocket was unable to achieve orbit, resulting in the loss of the satellite. Compared to its predecessor, CryoSat-2 features software upgrades, greater battery capacity and an updated instrument package. Its main instrument is an interferometric radar range-finder with twin antennas, which measures the height difference between the upper surface of floating ice and surrounding water. This is often known as 'free-board'.

CryoSat-2 is operated as part of the CryoSat programme to study the Earth's polar ice caps, which is itself part of the Living Planet programme. The CryoSat-2 spacecraft was constructed by EADS Astrium, and was launched by ISC Kosmotras, using a Dnepr carrier rocket, on 8 April 2010. On 22 October 2010, CryoSat-2 was declared operational following six months of on-orbit testing.

The initial proposal for the CryoSat programme was submitted as part of a call for proposals in July 1998 for Earth Explorer missions as part of the European Space Agency's Living Planet programme. It was selected for further studies in 1999, and following completion of a feasibility study the mission was authorised. The construction phase began in 2001, and in 2002 EADS Astrium was awarded a contract to build the spacecraft. A contract was also signed with Eurockot, to conduct the launch of the satellite using a Rokot/Briz-KM carrier rocket.


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