ALTIKA： A MICRO-SATELLITE KA-BAND ALTIMETRY MISSION

摘要

In partnership with scientific laboratories and industry, CNES has studied the feasibility of a high-resolution ocean topography mission based upon a new class of wide-band Ka-band altimeter in preparation for the post-ENVISAT mission and in order to complement the OSTM/Jason-2 mission. Altimetry is considered as one of the major elements of the ocean observing system to be made sustainable through the GEOSS (Global Earth Observation System of Systems) and GMES (Global Monitoring of the Environment and Security) programs. Because an opportunity to embark the AltiKa payload has appeared in the frame of a cooperation between CNES and ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization), AltiKa program has been approved by CNES Governing Board in December 2005, and the altimeter/radiometer C/D phase has been engaged. The launch of AltiKa is planned in mid-2009. This mission would thus be a demonstration of Ka-band altimetry as a complement to the Jason-2 mission. The AltiKa mission should then be considered as the post-ENVISAT altimetry gap filler.