ESA confirms CryoSat recovery mission (Forwarded)

European Space Agency
Press Release No. 08-2006

24 February 2006

ESA confirms CryoSat recovery mission

At the latest meeting of the European Space Agency's Earth Observation
Programme Board, which took place at ESA's Headquarters in Paris on 23 and
24 February, ESA received the green light from its Member States to build
and launch a CryoSat recovery mission, CryoSat-2.

The launch of the CryoSat spacecraft was unfortunately aborted on 8
October 2005 due to a malfunction of its Rockot launcher, which resulted
in the total loss of the spacecraft.

"This decision is very important, as the scientific community in Europe
and elsewhere is eagerly awaiting resumption of the CryoSat mission. We
are happy to have obtained approval today", said Volker Liebig, ESA
Director of Earth observation programmes.

A CryoSat recovery plan was presented to the Programme Board by ESA's
Executive, which explained the status of ongoing activities and outlined
the preparatory work leading to a CryoSat-2 mission, expected to be
launched in March 2009.

CryoSat-2 will have the same mission objectives as the original CryoSat
mission; it will monitor the thickness of land ice and sea ice and help
explain the connection between the melting of the polar ice and the rise
in sea levels and how this is contributing to climate change.

The positive decision on CryoSat-2 will allow rational use to be made of
the technical and industrial competences for the original mission, as well
as best use of the ground segment facilities and operational setup planned
for that first mission. It means that the pre-launch scientific validation
campaigns over land ice and sea ice can resume with the support of
national institutes.

Notes for editors

The CryoSat spacecraft will carry out a three-year mission dedicated to
very precisely monitoring changes in the elevation and thickness of polar
ice sheets and floating sea ice. It will orbit at an unusually high
inclination, reaching latitudes of 88 deg North and South.

CryoSat's main instrument, the SAR/Interferometric Radar Altimeter
(SIRAL), is based on the heritage of existing instruments, but with
several major enhancements designed to overcome the difficulties intrinsic
to the accurate measurement of ice surfaces. One of the two antennas will
send out radar signals, while both antennas then detect signal echoes from
the Earth's surface.

By knowing the position of the spacecraft to a very high accuracy --
achieved with an onboard ranging instrument called a Doppler Orbitography
and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite (DORIS) receiver supplemented
by a laser retro-reflector system -- the signal return time will reveal
the surface altitude. Correct antenna orientation is also vital and will
be maintained using a trio of star trackers.

In the past, radar altimeters could deliver data only over the sea and
large-scale homogeneous ice surfaces, but SIRAL's new design means that
detailed views of irregular sloping edges of land ice, as well as
non-homogenous ocean ice, can also be obtained.

For further information please contact:

ESA Media Relations Division
Tel: +33 01 53 69 7155
Fax: +33 01 53 69 7690

In depth

* CryoSat
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Cryosat/index.html
* Launch diary
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Cryosat/SEMZUI5Y3EE_0.html
* Rockot

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/ESA_Permanent_Mission_in_Russia/SEMEX30XDYD_0.html

Related news

* Interview with Volker Liebig on the loss of CryoSat
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM1OR5Y3EE_index_0.html
* CryoSat Mission lost due to launch failure
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMR3Q5Y3EE_index_0.html
* Launch dress rehearsal confirms CryoSat lift-off for 8 October 17:02
CEST
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM75G5Y3EE_index_0.html

IMAGE CAPTIONS:

[Image 1:
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM7WFMVGJE_index_1.html]
First CryoSat satellite during launch campaign

CryoSat in the clean room: once it is finished, the absorbing wall is
rolled to the clean room.

Credits: ESA-K. Büchler

[Image 2:
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM7WFMVGJE_index_1.html#subhead1]
Artist's impression of CryoSat in orbit

Credits: ESA - P. CARRIL

[Image 3:
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM7WFMVGJE_index_1.html#subhead2]
The DORIS radio receiver placed aboard CryoSat

Credits: ESA - S. CORVAJA


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