CryoSat-2 Launch Postponed
22.02.2010 - Atmosphere & Space, Ice & Snow, Bi-polar
The launch of ESA's CryoSat-2 satellite from Baikonur, Kazakhstan has been postponed due to a concern related to the second stage steering engine of the Dnepr launcher. The Ukranian company Yuzhnoye, which developed the launcher, stated that while the fuel supply of the second stage engine ought to be sufficient to get the satellite into orbit, the fuel reserve is not as large as they would like. The situation is under review and measures will be taken to resolve the problem.
When it is eventually launched, CryoSat-2 will fly in a highly inclined polar orbit, reaching latitudes of 88° north and south, to maximize its coverage of the poles. From an altitude of just over 700 km, CryoSat will precisely monitor changes in the thickness of sea ice and variations in the thickness of the ice sheets on land. These data will be crucial in providing an accurate picture of changes in sea ice thickness and allow scientists to understand how Earth’s ice is changing in response to climate change and how the Polar Regions are being affected by climate change.
