Cloud Satellites Launched
prep a week of postponements, NASA launched its CloudSat and CALIPSO missions Friday. Originally scheduled for liftoff April 21, the double satellite enterprise had experienced nasty weather, unavailability of refueling aircraft and a erroneous temperature sensor.
This time, however, the Delta II rocket carrying the two satellites lifted off at 3:02 a.m. quiet Time without a snag.
CALIPSO and CloudSat are fitted to provide a three-dimensional purview on planet's clouds and aerosols, and to study how clouds and the airborne particles order, evolve and affect water donate, climate, weather and air aura.
CloudSat's cloud-profiling radar is accessory than 1,000 times more sensitive than emblematic weather radar. It can discover clouds and distinguish between cloud particles and precipitation.
CALIPSO - which stands for Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite observance - carries an machine that can unearth aerosol particles and can distinguish between aerosol and cloud particles.
"with the high resolution solemnization that CALIPSO leave provide, we leave get a ameliorate understanding of aerosol expatriate and how our climate system plant," vocal David Winker, the voyage's principal snooper at NASA's Langley analysis Center in Hampton, Va.
Mission plans motion for the satellites to be launched into a 705-kilometer (438-mile) circular, Sun-synchronous nippy orbit, where they will fly in formation just 15 seconds separate as members of NASA's A-train constellation, which includes three other Earth Observing system satellites.
A-Train includes NASA's Aqua and Aura satellites and France's Polarization and Anisotropy of Reflectances for Atmospheric Sciences coupled with matter from a Lidar satellite.
Mission managers allow the data from CloudSat, CALIPSO and the variant A-familiarize satellites pass on be much new profitable when associated. Their measurements should improve insights into the global giving and extension of clouds, and lead to better weather forecasting and climate prediction.
This time, however, the Delta II rocket carrying the two satellites lifted off at 3:02 a.m. quiet Time without a snag.
CALIPSO and CloudSat are fitted to provide a three-dimensional purview on planet's clouds and aerosols, and to study how clouds and the airborne particles order, evolve and affect water donate, climate, weather and air aura.
CloudSat's cloud-profiling radar is accessory than 1,000 times more sensitive than emblematic weather radar. It can discover clouds and distinguish between cloud particles and precipitation.
CALIPSO - which stands for Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite observance - carries an machine that can unearth aerosol particles and can distinguish between aerosol and cloud particles.
"with the high resolution solemnization that CALIPSO leave provide, we leave get a ameliorate understanding of aerosol expatriate and how our climate system plant," vocal David Winker, the voyage's principal snooper at NASA's Langley analysis Center in Hampton, Va.
Mission plans motion for the satellites to be launched into a 705-kilometer (438-mile) circular, Sun-synchronous nippy orbit, where they will fly in formation just 15 seconds separate as members of NASA's A-train constellation, which includes three other Earth Observing system satellites.
A-Train includes NASA's Aqua and Aura satellites and France's Polarization and Anisotropy of Reflectances for Atmospheric Sciences coupled with matter from a Lidar satellite.
Mission managers allow the data from CloudSat, CALIPSO and the variant A-familiarize satellites pass on be much new profitable when associated. Their measurements should improve insights into the global giving and extension of clouds, and lead to better weather forecasting and climate prediction.
posted by Michael Cottier at 5:49 PM
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