Parasol (satellite)

PARASOL (Polarization & Anisotropy of Reflectances for Atmospheric Sciences coupled with Observations from a Lidar) was a French-built Earth observing research satellite. It carried an instrument called POLDER which studied the radiative and microphysical properties of clouds and aerosols.

For other uses, see Parasol (disambiguation).
Parasol
Mission typeEarth Observation
COSPAR ID2004-049G
SATCAT no.28498Edit this on Wikidata
Websitehttps://parasol.cnes.fr/en/PARASOL/index.htm
Mission duration9 years
Start of mission
Launch dateDecember 18, 2004 (2004-12-18)
RocketAriane 5
Launch siteKourou, French Guiana
Contractorb
End of mission
DeactivatedDecember 18, 2013
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeSun-synchronous
 
Satellites in A Train, prior to 2 December 2009: PARASOL is the second, from left

PARASOL was launched from the French spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana on December 18, 2004, by an Ariane 5 G+.

It flew in formation in the "A Train" constellation with several other satellites (Aqua, CALIPSO, CloudSat and Aura). These satellites had, for the first time ever, combined a full suite of instruments for observing clouds and aerosols, from passive radiometers to active lidar and radar sounders.

On 2 December 2009, PARASOL was manoeuvred out of the A-Train, dropping some 4 km below the other satellites by early January 2010.[1]

The satellite's mission was formally ended exactly 9 years after launch on December 18, 2013.[2]

References
  1. The PARASOL Satellite Moving Off the A-Train's Track, Angelita Kelly & Rob Gutro, Goddard Space Flight Center, 4 January 2009, accessed 6 January 2009
  2. PARASOL eoPortal Directory accessed 14 June 2016


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