Cryosat-2 to Be Launched in 2009
13.03.2007 - Logistics, Other
Scheduled for launch in 2009, the ESA CryoSat-2 satellite will replace CryoSat, which was lost due to a launch failure in October 2005. With its SAR/Interferometric Radar Altimeter (SIRAL), CryoSat-2 will measure fluctuations in the thickness of ice, on both land and sea, in order to provide proof as to whether there is indeed a trend towards a diminishing ice cover.
A number of field experiments supporting the mission are already underway in the Arctic.
First of all, the Arctic Arc expedition, undertaken by Alain Hubert and Dixie Dansercoer, will collect valuable measurements regarding the snow depth throughout their journey. Data gathered during the Arctic Arc expedition will contribute to the validation of calculations used by CryoSat-2 to estimate the amount of snow.
Scientists will also head towards the ice of Svalbard in mid-April to carry out the 2007 component of the CryoSat-2 Validation Experiment (CryoVEx-2007) in order to take comprehensive in-situ measurements of snow and ice properties.
