PARASOL
| PARASOL | |
|---|---|
| Type: | Earth observation satellite |
| Country: |
 France
|
| Operator: |
 CNES
|
| COSPAR-ID : | 2004-049G |
| Mission dates | |
| Dimensions: | 120 kg |
| Begin: | December 18, 2004, 16:26 UTC |
| Starting place: | Center Spatial Guyanais |
| Launcher: | Ariane 5 G + |
| Status: | in orbit |
| Orbit data | |
| Rotation time : | 97.9 min |
| Orbit inclination : | 98.1 ° |
| Apogee height : | 701 km |
| Perigee height : | 699 km |
Satellites in the A-Train : PARASOL second from left
PARASOL is a French earth observation satellite . He wears the POLDER instrument, which studies the radiation properties and the microscopic composition of clouds and suspended particles.
PARASOL took off on December 18, 2004 from the European spaceport in Kourou with an Ariane 5 G + . It is positioned in the A-Train formation with several other satellites ( Aqua , CALIPSO , CloudSat and Aura ). These satellites, which were to be supplemented by NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) in 2008 , but which were lost during launch, will for the first time undergo a comprehensive investigation of the . By merging several instruments (including passive radiometers and active lidar and radar systems ) Enable clouds and aerosols .
Web links
- CNES: Page on the PARASOL mission (English / French)