BrahmaChellaney
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Indian Space Capabilities
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Red Dwarf
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Key tests on next gen ISRO rocket this month
India will take a key step towards developing a powerful generation-next rocket capable of putting four tonne satellites in orbit when it tests the 200 tonne solid booster later this month.
The test launch of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III is expected next year.
"We are going to test the S-200, the solid booster, in the third week of January," Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman K Radhakrishnan told PTI on the sidelines of the 97th Indian Science Congress here.
ISRO scientists will also test the second stage which uses liquid propellant some time this month.
The ground tests are expected to be carried out at India's space port Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
The GSLV Mark III will propel India into a select group of nations, including US and European nations, having capability to launch heavier satellites.
fullstory
India will take a key step towards developing a powerful generation-next rocket capable of putting four tonne satellites in orbit when it tests the 200 tonne solid booster later this month.
The test launch of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III is expected next year.
"We are going to test the S-200, the solid booster, in the third week of January," Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman K Radhakrishnan told PTI on the sidelines of the 97th Indian Science Congress here.
ISRO scientists will also test the second stage which uses liquid propellant some time this month.
The ground tests are expected to be carried out at India's space port Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
The GSLV Mark III will propel India into a select group of nations, including US and European nations, having capability to launch heavier satellites.
fullstory
BrahmaChellaney
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It says PSLV launch has been put off till march and GSLV launch date would be decided in january. So maybe Jan end or Feb start, we might expect the GSLV-D3 liftoff.
Red Dwarf
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Yep. My mistake. I misread PSLV to GSLV.
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Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 4 (PTI) The indigenously built highly sophisticated cryogenic engine is undergoing a final review by ISRO before it is cleared for use in the test launch of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-D3 later this year.
"We are conducting a final thorough review of the cryogenic engine that will power the GSLV," Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman K Radhakrishnan told PTI on the sidelines of the 97th Indian Science Congress here.
He said a meeting of top scientists involved in the project would be held in Bangalore later this month where the launch date of the GSLV-D3 would also be decided.
Reports had it that ISRO had delayed the launch of GSLV-D3, which would put into orbit the GSAT-4 communications satellite.
"We want to be sure that the cryogenic engine performs as it is designed to.
A slight mistake could put the mission in jeopardy," Radhakrishnan said.
ISRO reviews cryogenic engine
fullstory
"We are conducting a final thorough review of the cryogenic engine that will power the GSLV," Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman K Radhakrishnan told PTI on the sidelines of the 97th Indian Science Congress here.
He said a meeting of top scientists involved in the project would be held in Bangalore later this month where the launch date of the GSLV-D3 would also be decided.
Reports had it that ISRO had delayed the launch of GSLV-D3, which would put into orbit the GSAT-4 communications satellite.
"We want to be sure that the cryogenic engine performs as it is designed to.
A slight mistake could put the mission in jeopardy," Radhakrishnan said.
ISRO reviews cryogenic engine
fullstory
ironman
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PTI
Tuesday, January 5, 2010 14:13 IST
Thiruvananthapruam: The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is planning to launch Cartosat series 'Cartosat-2B' remote sensing satellite in March this year, Isro chairman K Radhakrishnan said here today.
The testing of Cryogenic engine system for GSLV will also be held soon, Radhakrishnan said on the sidelines of the inauguration of 'IIST@Schools', an initiative of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) to introduce to schoolchildren, space activities and its social implications.
Inputs received through Cartosat are mainly used to plan development activities in rural and urban areas of the country.
Earlier, speaking on the occasion, he said India has outlined a series of challenging and exciting space programmes, including Chandrayan-2 and man-mission to space.
"India is capable of sending a man to space and bringing him back with our GSLV technology," the Isro chief said.
Other developed nations were planning to send men to Mars by 2030. "India's mission of sending a man to space is the first step to be with other nations in space technology," he said.
Radhakrishnan said ISRO now not only launches satellites for the country's use, but also satellites of other nations.
"Presently, Isro is on the job of making 20 satellites for other countries. India is one among the six nations that have developed indigenous space technology and also a model to the whole world on how space technology can be used for the development of a nation," Radhakrishnan said.
Speaking on the occasion, IIST director BN Suresh said the institute, which has entered its third year of existence,
was emerging as a world class centre for learning and reasoning.
The IIST campus, which at present functions at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre complex, will be shifted to its own premises at Velliyamala by March-April.
The Institution currently offers undergraduate (B Tech) programmes in Aerospace Engineering, Avionics and Physical Sciences, he said.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010 14:13 IST
Thiruvananthapruam: The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is planning to launch Cartosat series 'Cartosat-2B' remote sensing satellite in March this year, Isro chairman K Radhakrishnan said here today.
The testing of Cryogenic engine system for GSLV will also be held soon, Radhakrishnan said on the sidelines of the inauguration of 'IIST@Schools', an initiative of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) to introduce to schoolchildren, space activities and its social implications.
Inputs received through Cartosat are mainly used to plan development activities in rural and urban areas of the country.
Earlier, speaking on the occasion, he said India has outlined a series of challenging and exciting space programmes, including Chandrayan-2 and man-mission to space.
"India is capable of sending a man to space and bringing him back with our GSLV technology," the Isro chief said.
Other developed nations were planning to send men to Mars by 2030. "India's mission of sending a man to space is the first step to be with other nations in space technology," he said.
Radhakrishnan said ISRO now not only launches satellites for the country's use, but also satellites of other nations.
"Presently, Isro is on the job of making 20 satellites for other countries. India is one among the six nations that have developed indigenous space technology and also a model to the whole world on how space technology can be used for the development of a nation," Radhakrishnan said.
Speaking on the occasion, IIST director BN Suresh said the institute, which has entered its third year of existence,
was emerging as a world class centre for learning and reasoning.
The IIST campus, which at present functions at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre complex, will be shifted to its own premises at Velliyamala by March-April.
The Institution currently offers undergraduate (B Tech) programmes in Aerospace Engineering, Avionics and Physical Sciences, he said.
Tejas-MkII
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The Hindu : National : Challenges ahead in putting 2 Indians in space
Challenges ahead in putting 2 Indians in space
Special Correspondent
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Plans to put two Indians in space by 2015 require cutting edge technologies such as building a robust and reliable launch vehicle, a livable crew capsule, providing life support systems for the astronauts and a 100 per cent reliable crew escape system in case of an emergency, according to S. Ramkrishnan, Chief Executive, Human Space Flight Programme of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
The most challenging part was to ensure that the two-man crew were brought back safely to earth, said Mr. Ramakrishnan on Monday at the Space Summit of the Indian Science Congress, which is under way here.
The astronauts would remain in low-earth circular orbit at an altitude of 300 km for seven days. The mission called for building a launch vehicle that could safely take two humans into space, navigation, guidance and control systems, plans to pre-empt disasters, etc. But we have established our credentials for doing very complex missions, he said.
Mr. Ramakrishnan, who is also Director (Projects), Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram, said the ISRO was building a technology demonstrator of a reusable launch vehicle, called RLV-TD, similar to the U.S. space shuttle. The RLV-TDs engineering model was ready. A scaled-down model would be flown by the end of 2010.
The Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III was now in the testing phase. Its two boosters, each carrying 200 tonnes of solid propellants, would be tested after some weeks. It is a three-stage vehicle which, in 2011, would put a satellite weighing four tonnes in geo-synchronous transfer orbit and a 10-tonne satellite in low-earth orbit.
Managing Director of Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) C.G. Krishnadas Nair made a strong case for establishing universities devoted to aeronautics. The ISRO, CIAL, Airports Authority of India Limited and the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited were trying to establish an international institute for aeronautical engineering and management in Bangalore. Universities should be established for teaching airport design, construction and management. Very little research was done in aerospace in the private sector in the country. The Union government should devise a pro-active policy in aeronautics and set up an empowered commission on aeronautics.
Lars Prahm, Director-General, EUMETSAT, said weather-induced disasters such as floods and landslips were increasing globally. There was a reduction in the snow cover and a rise in the global sea-level. EUMETSAT, a European organisation with six operating satellites, wanted to forge global partnership, including with the ISRO, in meteorology, oceanography, monitoring of climate and atmospheric composition.
Director of CNES (French Space Agency) Marc Pircher said the Megha-Tropiques satellite, with payloads from India and France, would be put in orbit from India this year. It would study the tropical atmosphere near the equatorial belt and cyclone formation.
Daring to dream
The former Chairman of ISRO, U.R. Rao, wanted a new green revolution for better productivity of food grains. This required factors such as better management of agriculture, higher investment in energy sector and more access to marketing for farmers. The countrys food grain productivity of 3.5 tonnes per acre was lower than the world average. The nations challenges lay in ensuring food security, energy security, environmental security, space security and so on.
Professor Rao said colonisation of Mars by humans was possible in thousand years. It is no more fiction. It is within the realm of possibility. The last 50 years of space has been dramatic. The next 50 years will be spectacular for those who dare to dream.
Challenges ahead in putting 2 Indians in space
Special Correspondent
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Plans to put two Indians in space by 2015 require cutting edge technologies such as building a robust and reliable launch vehicle, a livable crew capsule, providing life support systems for the astronauts and a 100 per cent reliable crew escape system in case of an emergency, according to S. Ramkrishnan, Chief Executive, Human Space Flight Programme of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
The most challenging part was to ensure that the two-man crew were brought back safely to earth, said Mr. Ramakrishnan on Monday at the Space Summit of the Indian Science Congress, which is under way here.
The astronauts would remain in low-earth circular orbit at an altitude of 300 km for seven days. The mission called for building a launch vehicle that could safely take two humans into space, navigation, guidance and control systems, plans to pre-empt disasters, etc. But we have established our credentials for doing very complex missions, he said.
Mr. Ramakrishnan, who is also Director (Projects), Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram, said the ISRO was building a technology demonstrator of a reusable launch vehicle, called RLV-TD, similar to the U.S. space shuttle. The RLV-TDs engineering model was ready. A scaled-down model would be flown by the end of 2010.
The Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III was now in the testing phase. Its two boosters, each carrying 200 tonnes of solid propellants, would be tested after some weeks. It is a three-stage vehicle which, in 2011, would put a satellite weighing four tonnes in geo-synchronous transfer orbit and a 10-tonne satellite in low-earth orbit.
Managing Director of Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) C.G. Krishnadas Nair made a strong case for establishing universities devoted to aeronautics. The ISRO, CIAL, Airports Authority of India Limited and the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited were trying to establish an international institute for aeronautical engineering and management in Bangalore. Universities should be established for teaching airport design, construction and management. Very little research was done in aerospace in the private sector in the country. The Union government should devise a pro-active policy in aeronautics and set up an empowered commission on aeronautics.
Lars Prahm, Director-General, EUMETSAT, said weather-induced disasters such as floods and landslips were increasing globally. There was a reduction in the snow cover and a rise in the global sea-level. EUMETSAT, a European organisation with six operating satellites, wanted to forge global partnership, including with the ISRO, in meteorology, oceanography, monitoring of climate and atmospheric composition.
Director of CNES (French Space Agency) Marc Pircher said the Megha-Tropiques satellite, with payloads from India and France, would be put in orbit from India this year. It would study the tropical atmosphere near the equatorial belt and cyclone formation.
Daring to dream
The former Chairman of ISRO, U.R. Rao, wanted a new green revolution for better productivity of food grains. This required factors such as better management of agriculture, higher investment in energy sector and more access to marketing for farmers. The countrys food grain productivity of 3.5 tonnes per acre was lower than the world average. The nations challenges lay in ensuring food security, energy security, environmental security, space security and so on.
Professor Rao said colonisation of Mars by humans was possible in thousand years. It is no more fiction. It is within the realm of possibility. The last 50 years of space has been dramatic. The next 50 years will be spectacular for those who dare to dream.
brahmastra
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India May Launch New Cartosat in March
NEW DELHI - India has finished development work on its Cartosat-2B satellite, which will be used for military purposes in addition to remote sensing of rural and urban areas of the country, said a senior scientist at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which is building the satellite.
The Cartosat-2B is likely to be launched in March, the scientist said.
Last year, India put into orbit its RISAT-2, a high-resolution military satellite developed and built in India to monitor the country's borders and coastline for terrorist infiltration.
The Indian military currently depends on the Cartosat series of satellites for mapping.
Cartosat-2B, like the U.S. satellite Ikonos, offers 1-meter-resolution images - second in the world only to the Quickbird, which offers an incredibly close 60-centimeter resolution - all of them from a distance of 800 to 900 kilometers in space, the ISRO scientist said.
The Indian military needs satellites for accurate mapping and 3-D modeling of the mountainous Kashmir valley, where terrorists often enter India from Pakistan.
To boost its Navy's network-centric warfare program, India has planned a dedicated satellite to be launched this year. It will have a 1,000-nautical-mile footprint over the Indian Ocean region. ISRO is developing the satellite in collaboration with India's Defence Research and Development Organisation.
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4442658&c=ASI&s=AIR
NEW DELHI - India has finished development work on its Cartosat-2B satellite, which will be used for military purposes in addition to remote sensing of rural and urban areas of the country, said a senior scientist at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which is building the satellite.
The Cartosat-2B is likely to be launched in March, the scientist said.
Last year, India put into orbit its RISAT-2, a high-resolution military satellite developed and built in India to monitor the country's borders and coastline for terrorist infiltration.
The Indian military currently depends on the Cartosat series of satellites for mapping.
Cartosat-2B, like the U.S. satellite Ikonos, offers 1-meter-resolution images - second in the world only to the Quickbird, which offers an incredibly close 60-centimeter resolution - all of them from a distance of 800 to 900 kilometers in space, the ISRO scientist said.
The Indian military needs satellites for accurate mapping and 3-D modeling of the mountainous Kashmir valley, where terrorists often enter India from Pakistan.
To boost its Navy's network-centric warfare program, India has planned a dedicated satellite to be launched this year. It will have a 1,000-nautical-mile footprint over the Indian Ocean region. ISRO is developing the satellite in collaboration with India's Defence Research and Development Organisation.
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4442658&c=ASI&s=AIR
sudhir007
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India to launch satellite to study sea level rise
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 6 (PTI) With ocean scientists reporting a nine mm rise in sea levels in four years, India will launch an exclusive satellite later this year to study the changes in the environment.
The SARAL-Altika satellite will complement the current observations of the sea made by current satellites like Jason-2 of the French Space Agency and NASA.
"The SARAL-Altika to be launched by this year end will have a high-resolution altimeter in the Ka-band," Marc Pircher, Director of the Centre National d?Etudes Spatiales (CNES), the French space agency said on the sidelines of the 97th Indian Science Congress here.
He said the satellite would be useful in studying the sea state, light rainfall climatalogy, mean sea level and coastal altimetry.
fullstory
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 6 (PTI) With ocean scientists reporting a nine mm rise in sea levels in four years, India will launch an exclusive satellite later this year to study the changes in the environment.
The SARAL-Altika satellite will complement the current observations of the sea made by current satellites like Jason-2 of the French Space Agency and NASA.
"The SARAL-Altika to be launched by this year end will have a high-resolution altimeter in the Ka-band," Marc Pircher, Director of the Centre National d?Etudes Spatiales (CNES), the French space agency said on the sidelines of the 97th Indian Science Congress here.
He said the satellite would be useful in studying the sea state, light rainfall climatalogy, mean sea level and coastal altimetry.
fullstory
India to set up dedicated aeronautics and avionics academy
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM (PTI): India will get its first dedicated academy in aeronautics and avionics this month to train students in the emerging sector.
The Indian Institute of Aerospace Engineering and Management, with a campus in Bangalore, will start offering MBA and M.Tech courses in avionics and aeronautics management this month end, G Krishnadas Nair, Chairman and Managing Director of Cochin International Airport Limited, told PTI on the sidelines of the 97th Indian Science Congress here.
The institute, affiliated to Jain University, will offer undergraduate courses in six streams including aeronautical engineering and post graduate courses in aircraft production management, aircraft design and development and avionics.
"We will have batches in all streams by July," said Nair, who also heads the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
Currently an academy, run by the Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) offers some academic programmes in airport management and aviation business management.
Nair said the Indian Institute of Aerospace Engineering and Management will be the first institute to offer undergraduate, post-graduate, courses in aeronautics and avionics.
The institute is being set up at a time when the aviation sector is witnessing a boom amid plans of massive expansion in civil aviation infrastructure.
Senior faculties from HAL and IIT-Kanpur have already joined the institute, which will have representatives from HAL, ISRO, National Aerospace Laboratories and Jain University on its Governing Council.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM (PTI): India will get its first dedicated academy in aeronautics and avionics this month to train students in the emerging sector.
The Indian Institute of Aerospace Engineering and Management, with a campus in Bangalore, will start offering MBA and M.Tech courses in avionics and aeronautics management this month end, G Krishnadas Nair, Chairman and Managing Director of Cochin International Airport Limited, told PTI on the sidelines of the 97th Indian Science Congress here.
The institute, affiliated to Jain University, will offer undergraduate courses in six streams including aeronautical engineering and post graduate courses in aircraft production management, aircraft design and development and avionics.
"We will have batches in all streams by July," said Nair, who also heads the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
Currently an academy, run by the Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) offers some academic programmes in airport management and aviation business management.
Nair said the Indian Institute of Aerospace Engineering and Management will be the first institute to offer undergraduate, post-graduate, courses in aeronautics and avionics.
The institute is being set up at a time when the aviation sector is witnessing a boom amid plans of massive expansion in civil aviation infrastructure.
Senior faculties from HAL and IIT-Kanpur have already joined the institute, which will have representatives from HAL, ISRO, National Aerospace Laboratories and Jain University on its Governing Council.
Iggy
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India to launch satellite to study sea level rise
With ocean scientists reporting a nine mm rise in sea levels in four years, India will launch an exclusive satellite later this year to study the changes in the environment.
The SARAL-Altika satellite will complement the current observations of the sea made by current satellites like Jason-2 of the French Space Agency and NASA.
"The SARAL-Altika to be launched by this year end will have a high-resolution altimeter in the Ka-band," Marc Pircher, Director of the Centre National d?Etudes Spatiales (CNES), the French space agency said on the sidelines of the 97th Indian Science Congress here.
He said the satellite would be useful in studying the sea state, light rainfall climatalogy, mean sea level and coastal altimetry.
fullstory
With ocean scientists reporting a nine mm rise in sea levels in four years, India will launch an exclusive satellite later this year to study the changes in the environment.
The SARAL-Altika satellite will complement the current observations of the sea made by current satellites like Jason-2 of the French Space Agency and NASA.
"The SARAL-Altika to be launched by this year end will have a high-resolution altimeter in the Ka-band," Marc Pircher, Director of the Centre National d?Etudes Spatiales (CNES), the French space agency said on the sidelines of the 97th Indian Science Congress here.
He said the satellite would be useful in studying the sea state, light rainfall climatalogy, mean sea level and coastal altimetry.
fullstory
Mission: SARAL-AltiKa
The SARAL-AltiKa project is a collaboration between France and India. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) satellite Saral with its two independent payloads ARgos and ALtika are embarked on a mission to promote the study of environment in space.
The Saral mission is complementary to Jason-2. It is basically focused to understand climate and its forecasting capabilities, operational meteorology. This mission will give a clear picture of repetitive global measurements of sea surface height, significant wave heights and wind speed for developing operational oceanography.
The AltiKa project, which is developed by Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES, a French government space agency), is based on a wideband Ka-band altimeter (35.75 GHz, 500 MHz), which will be the first oceanography altimeter to operate at such a high frequency. This unique technical characteristic of the instrument will offer higher performance both in terms of spatial and vertical resolution.
The high-resolution AltiKa altimeter has a dual-frequency radiometric function which allows the altimetry measurements to be corrected for the effects due to the signal passing through the wet troposphere. This is coupled with the Doris (Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositionning Integrated by Satellite) precise orbit determination system, in association with a laser retro-reflector (LRA), which determines the satellite's precise position in orbit. This parameter is essential for measuring sea level.
AltiKa data will play a major role in the development of operational oceanography and its forecasting capabilities.The Saral satellite will be placed on Envisat's orbit, is scheduled to be launch at the end of 2010.
Description:
Mass: 350 / 400 kg
Altika payload: < 65 kg
Dimensions: 1 m x 1 m x 2.6 m
Orbit: Low orbit- 800 km
Polar- 98°
Sun-synchronous- 6:00 / 18:00
Instruments- Altimeter / radiometer
Doris
Laser retroreflector
Status: Phase B/C/D
Nominal operational lifetime: 5 years
Altika
A high accurate oceanography altimeter
Satellite radar altimetry is a technique used in oceanography to measure sea level on a large scale. The data obtained is vital to understanding ocean circulation and its variations.
The AltiKa project, which was developed by CNES, is based on a wideband Ka-band altimeter (35.75 GHz, 500 MHz), which will be the first oceanography altimeter to operate at such a high frequency. This unique technical characteristic of the instrument will offer higher performance both in terms of spatial and vertical resolution. The instruments more accurate measurements will lead to improved observation of ice, coastal areas, inland waters and wave height .
The AltiKa project will contribute to operational satellite altimetry by providing round-the-clock data of an accuracy demanded by the user community. When combined with data from Jason-2, they will ensure the continuity of the service presently offered by the 'double act' comprising Jason-1 and Envisat's altimetry payload.
By guaranteeing uninterrupted observations and extending the coverage, CNES is responding to the oceanography community's needs for accurate tools for:
* better characterisation of the mesoscale ocean and coastal areas,
* seasonal forecasting,
* climate studies.
The high-resolution AltiKa altimeter has a dual-frequency radiometric function which allows the altimetry measurements to be corrected for the effects due to the signal passing through the wet troposphere. This is coupled with the Doris1 precise orbit determination system, in association with a laser retro-reflector, which determines the satellite's precise position in orbit. This parameter is essential for measuring sea level.
AltiKa data, along with that from other altimetry missions, will thus play a major role in the development of operational oceanography and its forecasting capabilities, as well as improving our understanding of the climate.
Together with instruments from the Argos 3 mission, the AltiKa payload will be carried on the Saral2 satellite, developed jointly with the Indian Space Agency (ISRO), which is providing the platform and overseeing satellite operations, including launch, orbit acquisition and station keeping. CNES is supplying the AltiKa payload and will be responsible for receiving and processing data using the SALP altimetry and precise location service.
The agreement signed by CNES and ISRO in February 2007 will reinforce the working relationship of the two Agencies. The Saral satellite, to be placed on Envisat's orbit, is scheduled for launch end of 2010.
1 Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositionning Integrated by Satellite
2 Satellite with ARgos & ALtika, or "simple" in Hindi
Altika / Saral
Initiator CNES
Participants CNES, ISRO
Objectives - to study mesoscale ocean variability
- to observe coastal areas
- to observe inland waters
- to observe the surface of continental ice sheets
Status Phase B/C/D
Instruments - Altimeter / radiometer
- Doris
- Laser retroreflector
Satellite Saral, launch scheduled for end of 2010
CNES : Altika/Saral at a glance
- Last Updated: Jan 07, 2010
The SARAL-AltiKa project is a collaboration between France and India. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) satellite Saral with its two independent payloads ARgos and ALtika are embarked on a mission to promote the study of environment in space.
The Saral mission is complementary to Jason-2. It is basically focused to understand climate and its forecasting capabilities, operational meteorology. This mission will give a clear picture of repetitive global measurements of sea surface height, significant wave heights and wind speed for developing operational oceanography.
The AltiKa project, which is developed by Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES, a French government space agency), is based on a wideband Ka-band altimeter (35.75 GHz, 500 MHz), which will be the first oceanography altimeter to operate at such a high frequency. This unique technical characteristic of the instrument will offer higher performance both in terms of spatial and vertical resolution.
The high-resolution AltiKa altimeter has a dual-frequency radiometric function which allows the altimetry measurements to be corrected for the effects due to the signal passing through the wet troposphere. This is coupled with the Doris (Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositionning Integrated by Satellite) precise orbit determination system, in association with a laser retro-reflector (LRA), which determines the satellite's precise position in orbit. This parameter is essential for measuring sea level.
AltiKa data will play a major role in the development of operational oceanography and its forecasting capabilities.The Saral satellite will be placed on Envisat's orbit, is scheduled to be launch at the end of 2010.
Description:
Mass: 350 / 400 kg
Altika payload: < 65 kg
Dimensions: 1 m x 1 m x 2.6 m
Orbit: Low orbit- 800 km
Polar- 98°
Sun-synchronous- 6:00 / 18:00
Instruments- Altimeter / radiometer
Doris
Laser retroreflector
Status: Phase B/C/D
Nominal operational lifetime: 5 years
Altika
A high accurate oceanography altimeter
Satellite radar altimetry is a technique used in oceanography to measure sea level on a large scale. The data obtained is vital to understanding ocean circulation and its variations.
The AltiKa project, which was developed by CNES, is based on a wideband Ka-band altimeter (35.75 GHz, 500 MHz), which will be the first oceanography altimeter to operate at such a high frequency. This unique technical characteristic of the instrument will offer higher performance both in terms of spatial and vertical resolution. The instruments more accurate measurements will lead to improved observation of ice, coastal areas, inland waters and wave height .
The AltiKa project will contribute to operational satellite altimetry by providing round-the-clock data of an accuracy demanded by the user community. When combined with data from Jason-2, they will ensure the continuity of the service presently offered by the 'double act' comprising Jason-1 and Envisat's altimetry payload.
By guaranteeing uninterrupted observations and extending the coverage, CNES is responding to the oceanography community's needs for accurate tools for:
* better characterisation of the mesoscale ocean and coastal areas,
* seasonal forecasting,
* climate studies.
The high-resolution AltiKa altimeter has a dual-frequency radiometric function which allows the altimetry measurements to be corrected for the effects due to the signal passing through the wet troposphere. This is coupled with the Doris1 precise orbit determination system, in association with a laser retro-reflector, which determines the satellite's precise position in orbit. This parameter is essential for measuring sea level.
AltiKa data, along with that from other altimetry missions, will thus play a major role in the development of operational oceanography and its forecasting capabilities, as well as improving our understanding of the climate.
Together with instruments from the Argos 3 mission, the AltiKa payload will be carried on the Saral2 satellite, developed jointly with the Indian Space Agency (ISRO), which is providing the platform and overseeing satellite operations, including launch, orbit acquisition and station keeping. CNES is supplying the AltiKa payload and will be responsible for receiving and processing data using the SALP altimetry and precise location service.
The agreement signed by CNES and ISRO in February 2007 will reinforce the working relationship of the two Agencies. The Saral satellite, to be placed on Envisat's orbit, is scheduled for launch end of 2010.
1 Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositionning Integrated by Satellite
2 Satellite with ARgos & ALtika, or "simple" in Hindi
Altika / Saral
Initiator CNES
Participants CNES, ISRO
Objectives - to study mesoscale ocean variability
- to observe coastal areas
- to observe inland waters
- to observe the surface of continental ice sheets
Status Phase B/C/D
Instruments - Altimeter / radiometer
- Doris
- Laser retroreflector
Satellite Saral, launch scheduled for end of 2010
CNES : Altika/Saral at a glance
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