Parasol

Polarization and Anisotropy of Reflectances for Atmospheric Sciences coupled with Observations from a Lidar

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General

Designation	28498 / 04049G
Launch date	18 Dec 2004
Country of origin	France
Mission	Remote sensing
Perigee/Apogee	705 km
Inclination	98.1°
Period	98 min
Launch vehicle	Ariane V165

Part of a group of satellite (the "A-train") which observe the same phenomena within minutes (15 max). The other satellites are: Parasol, EOS PM 1, EOS Chemistry 1, Picasso-Cena / Calipso, Cloudsat, and OCO.

The satellite sent its first pictures on 7 Jan 2005 and is operating nominally.

Left the A-train in Dec 2009, to be replaced by Glory (to be launched in 2010).

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External resources

sat-index articles

http://smsc.cnes.fr/PARASOL/

Technical data

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Specifications

Prime contractor	Alcatel Space & EADS
Platform	Myriade
Mass at launch	125 kg
Mass in orbit
Dimension	0.6 x 0.6 x 1 m
Solar array
Stabilization
DC power
Design lifetime	2 years

payload very similar to Polder which flew on Adeos 1

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