CloudSat (ESSP 4)

Designation	29107 / 06016A
Launch date	28 Apr 2006 - 10:02 UT
Launch site	Va, SLC-2W
Launch vehicle	Delta-7420-10C
Mission	Government/Civil: Earth Observation, Rem Sensing
LEO Sun-Synchronous Earth orbit on:
Perigee / Apogee	701 x 704 km
Eccentricity	2.12E-04
Inclination	98.25°
Period	98.83 min

Prime contractor	Ball Aerospace (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory?)
Operator	NASA/Colorado State University
Platform	BCP-2000
Mass at launch	848 kg
Dry Mass	kg
Basic shape
Dimension (m)
Solar array
Equipment	Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR)
DC power	570 W
Design lifetime	2 yrs

CloudSat will use millimeter-wavelength radar to measure the altitude and properties of clouds. Advanced cloud-profiling radar will gather information on the vertical structure of highly dynamic cloud systems. This new information will provide the first global measurements of cloud properties that will help scientists compile a database of cloud measurements to improve how clouds are represented in global climate and numerical weather prediction models.

Joins Aqua, Parasol, Aura, and Calipso in A-Train; meteorological satellite, carries single radar to obtain the reflectivity of clouds.

Ref.: #7, #14, #98a, #98a, #226 - update: 03.08.06