CryoSat
CryoSat is ESA's Earth Explorer mission using the SAR Interferometric Radar Altimeter to measure changes in polar ice elevation and sea-ice freeboard. These observations support estimates of sea-ice thickness and changes in Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. Thickness is derived rather than directly measured: snow loading and the radar's effective reflection surface affect the interpretation of sea-ice height. Coordinated Cryo2ice observations with NASA's ICESat-2 combine radar and laser measurements to improve knowledge of snow and ice and to prepare future polar-altimetry missions.
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Identity
- Aliases
- CryoSatCryoSat-2CryoSat 2CryoSat mission
- Name
- CryoSat
- Status
- active
Details
- Astronauts
- -
- Description
- CryoSat is ESA's Earth Explorer mission using the SAR Interferometric Radar Altimeter to measure changes in polar ice elevation and sea-ice freeboard. These observations support estimates of sea-ice thickness and changes in Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. Thickness is derived rather than directly measured: snow loading and the radar's effective reflection surface affect the interpretation of sea-ice height. Coordinated Cryo2ice observations with NASA's ICESat-2 combine radar and laser measurements to improve knowledge of snow and ice and to prepare future polar-altimetry missions.
- Destination
- Polar, non-sun-synchronous orbit at approximately 719 km (92° inclination)
- Programs
- Start Date
- 2010-04-08
- Vehicle Families
- -
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 14, 2026 at 13:33:05 UTC
- Updated Time
- October 29, 2026 at 15:23:46 UTC
Other
- Affiliations
- Space Stations
- -
- Vehicles
- -