Esa v twin software download
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. Īntarctica CryoSat-2 is designed to study Earth's polar ice caps On 22 October 2010, CryoSat-2 was declared operational following six months of on-orbit testing. The CryoSat-2 spacecraft was constructed by EADS Astrium, and was launched by ISC Kosmotras, using a Dnepr carrier rocket, on 8 April 2010. This is often known as 'free-board'.ĬryoSat-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. 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. Compared to its predecessor, CryoSat-2 features software upgrades, greater battery capacity and an updated instrument package. 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 ( 1⁄ 2 in).ĬryoSat-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. 8 April 2010, 13:57:04 ( UTC13:57:04Z) UTC ĭoppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integration by SatelliteĮSA Earth insignia for the CryoSat-2 missionĬryoSat-2 is a European Space Agency environmental research satellite which was launched in April 2010.