Status of current and future CGMS Members' satellites

Information maintained by WMO Space Programme on behalf of CGMS

(Updated on 21 May 2012)

Table 1/6: Current geostationary satellites contributing to the GOS

Jump to:

 

 

Sector

Satellites  in orbit 
P=pre-operational
Op=operational
B=back-up
L=limited availability

 

Operator

 

 

Location

 

Launch date

Details on near
real time access
to L0/L1 data

(Links )

 

Environmental payload and status

East Pacific
(180°W-108°W)

GOES-15 (Op)

USA/NOAA

135°W

4/03/2010

GOES NOP Databook (26MB)
OSDPD/SSD
SAT-info-links

5-channel imager, 19-channel sounder, DCIS, SEM, SXI, XRS
Operational at GOES-West position

West Atlantic
(108°W-36°W)

GOES-14 (B)

USA/NOAA

104.86°W

28/06/2009

GOES NOP Databook (26MB)

5-channel imager, 19-channel sounder, DCIS, SEM, SXI
In storage. Available for back-up.

GOES-13 (Op)

USA/NOAA

75 °W

24/05/2006

GOES NOP Databook (26MB)

5-channel imager, 19-channel sounder, DCIS, SEM, SXI
Operational at GOES-East position
XRS/EUV instrument had a capacitor failure rendering unit inoperable.

GOES-12 (B)

USA/NOAA

60°W

23/07/2001

GOES I-M Databook
OSDPD/SSD
SAT-info-links

5-channel imager, 19-channel sounder, DCIS, SEM
Supports South America. SXI failed 4/12/2007, X-Ray Positioner failed 4/12/2007. No fuel remaining for inclination control.

East Atlantic
(36°W-36°E)

Meteosat-9 (Op)

EUMETSAT

21/12/2005

Service Status
Data access
Level 1 data info

12-channel SEVIRI imager, GERB, DCS
Data disseminated via EUMETCAST and LRIT

Meteosat-8 (Op)

EUMETSAT

9.5°E

28/08/2002

Rapid Scanning Service and back-up of Meteosat-9.
No Direct broadcast. Dissemination by EUMETCast.

Indian Ocean
(36°E-108°E)

Meteosat-7 (Op)

EUMETSAT

57.5°E

02/09/1997

3-channel imager
Dissemination via EUMETCast
Indian Ocean Data Coverage (IODC), currently approved until end of 2013

Kalpana-1 (Op)
(previously METSAT)

INDIA

74°E

12/09/2002

INSAT images

3-channel VHRR imager, DCS

Electro-L N1 (P)

Russian Federation /Roshydromet-Roscosmos

76°E

20/01/2011

HRIT/LRIT specification

In commissioning
MSU-GS, HMS, DCS, GeoSAR.
Direct broadcast HRIT, LRIT

FY-2D (Op)

CHINA/CMA

86.5°E

8/12/2006

S-VISSR(NRT)
Data Centre

5-channel improved S-VISSR, SEM, DCS
Complements FY-2 at 105°E

INSAT-3A (Op)

INDIA

93.5°E

10/04/2003

INSAT images

Operational since 24/04/03.
3-channel VHRR imager, DCS and CCD camera

FY-2E (Op)

China/CMA

105°E

23/12/2008

S-VISSR(NRT)
Data Centre

5-channel improved VISSR, SEM, DCS.
Direct broadcast via LRIT

West Pacific
(108°E-180°E)

FY-2F (P)

China/CMA

112°E

13/01/2012

S-VISSR(NRT)
Data Centre

5-channel improved VISSR, DCS, SEM. Direct broadcast via LRIT
Temporary location for in-orbit commissioning

FY-2C (B)

CHINA/CMA

123.5°E

19/10/2004

Limited Operations

5-channel improved S-VISSR, SEM, DCS.
Maintained as a back-up since 23 November 09.

COMS-1(Op)

Korea/KMA, KORDI

128.2°E

26/06/2010

HRIT specification
LRIT specification

5-channel VIS/IR Meteorological Imager (MI), Geost. Ocean Colour Imager (GOCI) Direct Broadcast via HRIT/LRIT

Himawari-6 (B)
(MTSAT-1R)

JAPAN/JMA

140°E

26/02/2005

See below

5-channel VIS/IR imager, DCS.
Supports MTSAT-2 for direct broadcast from 140°E

Himawari-7 (Op)
(MTSAT-2)

JAPAN/JMA

145°E

18/02/2006

Access details

5-channel VIS/IR imager, DCS.
Operational since July 2010, with data transmitted by MTSAT-1R

 


Table 2/6: Future geostationary and HEO satellites contributing to the GOS

 

Sector

Satellites  in orbit 
P=pre-operational
Op=operational
B=back-up
L=limited availability

 

Operator

 

 

Location

 

Launch date

Details on near
real time access
to L0/L1 data

(Links )

 

Environmental payload and status

East Pacific
(180°W-108°W)

and

West Atlantic
(108°W-36°W)

GOES-R

USA/NOAA

135°W
or 75°W

10/2015

Architecture

ABI, GLM, SUV, EXIS, SEISS
(Advanced Baseline Imager, Geostationary Lightning Mapper, Solar UV Imager, Extreme UV and X-ray Irradiance Sensors, Space Environment In-Situ Suite). Ready for launch in 2015 if needed.

GOES-S

USA/NOAA

135°W
or 75°W

02/2017

Architecture

ABI, GLM, SUV, EXIS, SEISS
Ready for launch in 2016 if needed.

East
Atlantic

(36°W
-36°E)

Electro-L N2

Russian Federation/Roshydromet-Roscosmos

14.5°W

2013

 

MSU-GS, HMS, DCS, GeoSAR.
Direct broadcast HRIT, LRIT

Meteosat-10
( MSG-3)

EUMETSAT

06-08/2012

 

12-channel SEVIRI imager, GERB, DCS
Dissemination by LRIT and EUMETCast

Meteosat-11
( MSG-4)

EUMETSAT

01/2015

 

12-channel SEVIRI imager, GERB, DCS

MTG I1

EUMETSAT

12/2018

 

Meteosat Third Generation/ Imaging (FCI, LI)

MTG S1

EUMETSAT

2019

 

Meteosat Third Generation/ Sounding (IRS, UVN)

MTG I2

EUMETSAT

2022

 

Meteosat Third Generation/ Imaging (FCI, LI)

MTG I3

EUMETSAT

2026

 

Meteosat Third Generation/ Imaging (FCI, LI)

MTG S2

EUMETSAT

2027

 

Meteosat Third Generation/ Sounding (IRS, UVN)

MTG I4

EUMETSAT

2030

 

Meteosat Third Generation/ Imaging (FCI, LI)

Indian Ocean
(36°E-108°E)

INSAT-3D Prime

India

74° E

2014

 

Improved 6-channel Imager and 19-channel sounder

Electro-M N1

Russian Federation/ Roshydromet-Roscosmos

76°E

2018

 

 

INSAT-3D

India

82° E

2012

 

Improved 6-channel Imager and 19-channel sounder

FY-4A

China/CMA

TBD

2015

 

multi-spectral imager, Atmospheric sounder, lightning mapper, SEM

FY-2H

China/CMA

86.5°E

2016

 

5-channel improved VISSR, DCS, SEM. Direct broadcast via LRIT

FY-4C

China/CMA

TBD

2019

 

multi-spectral imager, Atmospheric sounder, lightning mapper, SEM

FY-4E

China/CMA

TBD

TBD

 

multi-spectral imager, Atmospheric sounder, lightning mapper, SEM

West Pacific
(108°E-180°E)

FY-2G

China/CMA

123°E

2014

 

5-channel improved VISSR, DCS, SEM. Direct broadcast via LRIT

FY-4B

China/CMA

TBD

2017

 

multi-spectral imager, Atmospheric sounder, lightning mapper, SEM

FY-4D

China/CMA

TBD

TBD

 

multi-spectral imager, Atmospheric sounder, lightning mapper, SEM

FY-4 F

China/CMA

TBD

TBD

 

multi-spectral imager, Atmospheric sounder, lightning mapper, SEM

GEO-KOMPSAT-2A

Korea/KMA

116.2°E or 128.2°E

2017

 

Advanced Meteorological Imager, Space Environmental monitoring payload
Direct Broadcast via HRIT/LRIT

GEO-KOMPSAT-2B Korea/MLTM (Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs), ME (Ministry of Environment) 116.2°E or 128.2°E 2018  

Advanced Geost. Ocean Colour Imager (GOCI), Geostationary Environmental Monitoring Spectrometer  (GEMS)

Himawari-8
( MTSAT
follow-on)

JAPAN/JMA

140.7°E or 143.3°E

2014

 

-Advanced Himawari Imager
(AHI), DCS, SEM

Himawari-9

JAPAN/JMA

140.7°E or 143.3°E

2016

 

 -Advanced Himawari Imager
(AHI), DCS, SEM

Electro-L N3

Russian Federation /Roshydromet-Roscosmos

165.8°E

2015

 

MSU-GS, HMS, DCS, GeoSAR.
Direct broadcast HRIT, LRIT

Highly Elliptical Orbit (non-geo-stationary)

Arctica-M N1

Russian Federation /Roshydromet-Roscosmos"

Molnya Orbit

2015

 

MSU-GS, Space Weather Instruments, DCS

Arctica-M N2

Russian Federation /Roshydromet-Roscosmos

Molnya Orbit

2016

 

MSU-GS, Space Weather Instruments, DCS

 

Table 3/6: Current LEO satellites contributing to the GOS

Sun-synchronous satellites are listed by Equatorial Crossing Time at the Ascending Node, in ascending order.

Orbit type
ECT=Equator Crossing Time (for sun-synchronous orbits)

Satellites in orbit
P=pre-operational
Op=operational
B=back-up, secondary
L=limited availability

Operator

Equator Crossing Time (ECT)
Ascending
Node

Mean Altitude

Launch date

Details on near real time access to L0/L1 data (links)

Instrument payload
and status

Sun-synchronous "Afternoon" orbit

ECT between
12:00-17:00
and between
00:00-05:00

Suomi-NPP (P)
(National Polar-orbiting Partnership)

USA
NOAA/NASA

13:30

833 km

27 Oct 2011

IDPS
DRL NPP
Formats

VIIRS, CrIS, ATMS, OMPS, CERES

NOAA-19 (Op)

USA/NOAA

13:32

870 km

06/02/2009

User Guide

Functional. Noise on MHS Channel H3. Noise on AMSU-A1 channel 8.

FY-3B (Op)

CHINA/CMA

13:38

836 km

0511/2010

Data access
SW guide

VIRR, MERSI-1, MWRI, IRAS, MWTS-1, MWHS-1, TOU/SBUS, SEM, SIM-1.
AHRPT/MPT
ERM failed

NOAA-18 (B)

USA/NOAA

14:22

854 km

20/05/2005

User Guide

Functional. Noise on HIRS long wave channels. SBUV chopper motor intermittent seizures, but self-corrected via macros. 6/7/2009 – MIMU-2 failure (loss of redundancy).

DMSP-F14 (B)

USA/NOAA

15:47

852 km

04/97

 

Defense satellite. SSMI, SSMT1, SSMT2 non-functional. No functional on-board recorder

FY-1D (Op)

China/CMA

16:18

866 km

15/05/2002

Details

Functional. VIRR, SEM. Direct Broadcast CHRPT
Expected end of service after 2010

NOAA-15 (B)

USA/NOAA

16:38

807 km

05/1998

User Guide

Functional. AVHRR provides images with degraded navigation. AMSU-B scan motor stalled on March 28, 2011 & HIRS/Filter wheel failed on June 6, 2009) AMSU-A1 channels 11 & 14 inoperative and AMSU-B scan motor stalled on March 28, 2011.

Sun-synchronous "Early morning" orbit

ECT between
17:00-19:00
and between
05:00-07:00

DMSP-F15 (B)

USA/NOAA-DOD

17:06

850 km

12/12/1999

Archive :
CLASS

Defense satellite. SSMT2 non-functional. Reduced pointer accuracy. Data available to civilian users through NOAA.

DMSP-F17 (Op)

USA/NOAA-DOD

17:37

850 km

04/11/2006

Archive :
CLASS

SSMIS . Defense satellite.
Data available to civilian users through NOAA.

DMSP-F13 (B)

USA/NOAA-DOD

18:05

850 km

03/1995

Archive :
CLASS

SSMIS . Defense satellite.
Data available to civilian users through NOAA.
No functional recorders on board

DMSP-F16 (B)

USA/NOAA-DOD

18:51

850 km

18/10/2003

Archive :
CLASS

SSMIS . Defense satellite. Reduced pointing accuracy. Data available to civilian users through NOAA.

 

Sun-synchronous  "Morning" orbit

ECT between
19:00-24:00
and between
07:00-12:00

NOAA-16 (B)

USA/NOAA

19:45

849 km

21/09/2000

User Guide

Functional, no APT. Intermittent problems with AVHRR.

DMSP F-18 (Op)

USA/NOAA-DOD

20:08

850 km

 18/10/2009

Archive :
CLASS

SSMIS. Defense satellite.
Data available to civilian users through NOAA.

FY-3A (Op)

China/CMA

20:22

836 km

27/05/2008

Data access
SW guide

Direct Broadcast: AHRPT/MPT
AHRPT transmission of: VISR, MWTS, MWHS, TOU, SEM, SIM.
MPT transmission of: MERSI

SBUS, MWRI, ERM, IRAS failed

NOAA-17 (B)

USA/NOAA

20:43

810 km

24/06/2002

User Guide

Functional. 10/28/2003 – AMSU-A1 Failed. 2/15/2003 – DTR5 Failed. 2/14/2008 – STX3 output power degraded to inoperable level. STX1 diminished performance. AMSU-B channels 18-20 inoperative. AVHRR scan motor stalled on October 15, 2010.

Metop-A (Op)

EUMETSAT

21:30

837 km

19/10/2006

Data access
L1 data info

AVHRR/3, HIRS/4, AMSU-A, MHS, IASI, GRAS, ASCAT, GOME-2, SEM ( HRPT partly functional)
Dissemination via EUMETCast

METEOR-M N1(P)

Russian Federation /Roshydromet-Roscosmos

21:30

830 km

17/09/2009

Signal structure

MSU-MR, MTVZA, KMSS, Severjanin, GGAK-M. Dissemination: HRPT, LRPT

Non sun-synchronous

Jason-2 (Op) 
(Ocean Surface Topography Mission)
(NOAA,
EUMETSAT)

NASA/NOAA,
EUMETSAT/ CNES

(66° inclin.)

1336 km

20/06/2008

Handbook

Follow-on of Jason-1
Sea surface topography measurement

Table 4/6: Future LEO satellites contributing to the GOS

Sun-synchronous satellites are listed by Equatorial Crossing Time at the Ascending Node, in ascending order.

Orbit type
ECT=Equator Crossing Time (for sun-synchronous orbits)

Satellites in orbit
P=pre-operational
Op=operational
B=back-up, secondary
L=limited availability

Operator

Equator Crossing Time (ECT)
Ascending
Node

Mean Altitude

Launch date

Details on near real time access to L0/L1 data (links)

Instrument payload
and status

Sun-synchronous  "Afternoon" orbit

ECT between
12:00-17:00
and between
00:00-05:00

JPSS-1

USA/NOAA

13:30

833 km

11/2016

NDE
IDPS
FTS
Formats

VIIRS, CrIS, ATMS, CERES, TSIS, OMPS/Nadir. Products: Products
Payload and products still TBC

JPSS-2

USA/NOAA

13:30

833 km

11/2021

NDE
IDPS
FTS

VIIRS, CrIS, ATMS, OMPS/Nadir 
Products: Products
Payload and products still TBC

FY-3D

CHINA/CMA

14:00

836 km

2015

 

AHRPT/MPT transmission; MERSI-2, GAS, HIRAS, MWTS-2, MWHS-2, SES, GNOS

FY-3F

CHINA/CMA

14:00

836 km

2019

 

AHRPT/MPT transmission; MERSI-2, GAS, HIRAS, MWTS-2, MWHS-2, SES, GNOS

METEOR-M N2-2

Russian Federation /Roshydromet-Roscosmos

Afternoon
(Time TBD)

820 km

2015

 

MSU-MR, MTVZA, , KMSS, Severjanin,
GGAK-M,IRFS-2,  DCS. Dissemination: HRPT, LRPT

Sun-synchronous
"Early morning" orbit

between 17:00-19:00
and
0 5:00-07:00

DMSP-F19

USA/NOAA-DOD

17:XX

848 km

End 2012

 

 

Sun-synchronous 
"Morning" orbit

ECT between
19:00-24:00
and between
07:00-12:00

DMSP-F20

USA/NOAA

19:XX

848 km

End 2014

   

Metop-B
(Metop-1)

EUMETSAT

21:30

837 km

05/2012

 

AVHRR, HIRS, MHS,AMSU-A, IASI, ASCAT,GRAS GOME.

Metop-C
(Metop-3)

EUMETSAT

21:30

837 km

End 2016

 

AVHRR,
MHS,AMSU-A, IASI, ASCAT,GRAS GOME

METEOR-M N2

Russian Federation /Roshydromet-Roscosmos

21:30

836 km

September 2012

 

MSU-MR, MTVZA, IRFS-2, KMSS, Severjanin,
GGAK-M, DCS. Dissemination: HRPT, LRPT

METEOR-M N2-1

Russian Federation /Roshydromet-Roscosmos

21:30

820 km

2014

 

MSU-MR, MTVZA, IRFS-2, KMSS, Severjanin,
GGAK-M, DCS. Dissemination: HRPT, LRPT

FY-3C

CHINA/CMA

22:00

836 km

2013

 
VIRR, MERSI-2, IRAS, MWTS-2, MWHS-2, TOUS/SBUS, MWIRI, ERM-1, SIM-2. AHRPT/MPT

FY-3E

CHINA/CMA

22:00

836 km

2017

 

AHRPT/MPT transmission;
MERSI-2, WindRD, HIRAS, MWTS-2, MWHS-2, WindRAD, OMS,  SES , ERM-2, SIM-2, GNOS

FY-3G

CHINA/CMA

22:00

836 km

2021

 
AHRPT/MPT transmission;
MERSI-2, WindRD, HIRAS, MWTS-2, MWHS-2, WindRAD, OMS,  SES , ERM-2, SIM-2, GNOS

METEOR-M N3

Russian Federation /Roshydromet-Roscosmos

TBD

835 km

2015

 

MSS-BIO, SCAT, OCS, Radiomet, Severjanin-plus
Dissemination: HRPT, LRPT

Non sun-synchronous

JASON-3
(Ocean Surface Topography Mission)

NASA/NOAA/ EUMETSAT/ CNES

(66° inclin.)

1336 km

2013

 

Follow-on of JASON-2
Sea surface topography measurement

FY-3 RM 1

CHINA/CMA

inclin.TBD

TBD

2015

  Ku/Ka Precipitation Radar,
MWTS, MWHS, MWRI

FY-3 RM 2

CHINA/CMA

inclin.TBD

TBD

2019

  Ku/Ka Precipitation Radar,
MWTS, MWHS, MWRI

 

Table 5/6: Current Research&Development (R&D) satellites

Sorted by launch date. Click on the satellite name in the table below to find more information (external links)

Satellites

Space Agency

Equator Crossing Time
+
Altitude

Launch date

Access to data or products (Links)

Instruments

Status, applications and other information

Orbview-2
(former SeaStar)

Geoeye
(partnership with NASA)

12:00 (D)
780 km

01/08/97

 

- SeaWiFs (Sea-Viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor)

8-channel imager for ocean colour, vegetation
and aerosols. Operated by GeoEye company under data-buy contract with US agencies.

TRMM

NASA/
JAXA

non-sun-synchronous
(35° incl)
402 km

28/11/97

PMM data access page
TRMM data products

- PR (Precipitation Radar)
- TMI (TRMM MW Imager)
- CERES
- VIRS
- LIS (Lightning Imaging Sensor)

Measures tropical rainfall/precipitation and radiation energy 
Precipitation Radar (PR) provided by JAXA
Satellite bus and other instruments provided by NASA
CERES no longer functional

Landsat-7

NASA/
USGS

10:05 (D)
705 km

15/04/99

Details
Landsat/USGS

- ETM+ (Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus)

Well-calibrated, multispectral, moderate resolution, substantially cloud-free, sunlit digital images of the Earth's continental and coastal areas and selected coral reefs. 

Terra

NASA

10:30 (D)
705 km

18/12/99

DAAC

- CERES
- MISR
- MODIS
- MOPITT
- ASTER

Measurement of Earth' climate system, atmosphere, land, oceans and interactions with solar radiation

ACRIMSAT

NASA

10:50 (D)
720 km

20/12/99

 

- ACRIM 3

(Active Cavity Radiometer Irradiance Monitor Satellite)
Measures total solar irradiance

NMP EO-1

NASA

10:01 (D)
705 km

21/11/00

 

- Advanced Land Imager
- Hyperion
- LAC (atmospheric corrector)

(New Millennium Program Earth Observing-1)
Demonstrates and validates advanced technology instruments (multi and hyperspectral), spacecraft systems, and mission concepts in flight

PROBA

ESA

10:30 ( D)
615 km

22/10/2001

Earthnet
on line

- CHRIS

Drifting orbit.
Technology experiment.
AO Science mission since 2001.

Jason-1

NASA/
CNES

non-sun-synchronous
(66° incl)
1336 km

07/12/01

Aviso
PO.DAAC

- LRA (Laser retroreflector array)
- Poseidon2 (solid state radar altimeter)
- DORIS receiver
- Jason Microwave Radiometer
- BlackJack GPS Receiver

Ocean surface topography follow-on mission to TOPEX/Poseidon.
Monitors global ocean circulation for global climate prediction

ENVISAT

ESA

10:00 (D)
800 km

1/03/2002

Earthnet
on line

- ASAR, RA-2
- AATSR
- MERIS
- GOMOS
- MIPAS
- MWR
- SCHIAMACHY

Operations terminated on 8 April 2012 following loss of contact wth the spacecraf.

GRACE

NASA/
DLR


non-sun-synchronous
(89°incl)
485 km

17/03/02

PO.DAAC

- Star Camera Assembly
- BlackJack GPS Receiver
- Instruments Processing Unit
- Laser Retro-Reflector Assembly
- K-Band Ranging Instruments
- SuperSTAR Accelerometers

(Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) Accurate global and high-resolution determination of static and time-variable components of Earth's gravity field. Measurement of:
- Gravitational field
- GPS atmospheric and ionospheric limb sounding

Aqua

NASA

13:30 (A)
705 km

04/05/02

Direct Broadcast and data centres

- AIRS
- AMSR-E
- AMSU-A
- CERES
- HSB
- MODIS

Collects data on Earth's water cycle, precise atmospheric, land  and oceanic measurements, and interaction with solar radiation.
AMSR-E, provided by JAXA (stopped operations in October 2011). HSB provided by INPE (no longer functional)

SORCE

NASA

non-sun-synchronous
(40° incl)
640 km

25/01/03

DISC

- XPS (Extreme Ultraviolet (XUV) Photometer System)
- TIM (Total Irradiance Monitor)
- SIM (Spectral Irradiance Monitor A&B)
- SOLSTICE (Solar Stellar Irradiance Comparison Experiment A&B)

(Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment)
Provides total solar irradiance measurements and full solar spectral irradiance measurements.          
Continuation of ACRIMSAT total solar irradiance measurements.

Resourcesat-1

ISRO

10:30 (D)
817 km

10/2003

 

- AWIFS

Land monitoring
4-channel camera

Aura

NASA

13:45 (A)
705 km

15/07/04

DISC

- HIRDLS,
- MLS (Microwave Limb Sounder)
- OMI  (Ozone Monitoring Instrument)
- TES

Comprehensive measurements of atmospheric chemistry and trace gasses :
HIRDLS = High Resolution Dynamic Limb Sounder  (IR)
TES = Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer

PARASOL

CNES

13:32 (A)
705 km

18/12/04

CNES
Icare

- POLDER

Characterisation of clouds and aerosols microphysical and radiative properties. Data can be accessed for level 1 from CNES     and for level 2 and more from Icare

Cartosat-1

ISRO

10:30 (D)
 618 km

05/2005

 

- Carto-dem

High resolution stereo imagery   
2 Panchromatic cameras

CALIPSO

NASA/
CNES

13:30 (A)
705 km

28/04/06

ASDC
Icare

- CALIOP
- WFC
- IIR

(Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations for climate predictions)  

CloudSat

NASA/
CSA

13:30 (A)
705 km

28/04/06

DPC

- CPR (Cloud Profiling Radar)

Global cloud properties (applications: air quality, aviation safety, disaster management, energy and water management)

Resurs-DK

Roscosmos

360-690 km
(70.4°incl)

15/06/06

 

 

Land Observing satellite

HY-1B

CNSA

10:30 (D)
798 km

04/2007

 

- 4-band CCD Camera
- Ocean Colour and Temperature Scanner (OCTS)

Ocean monitoring

HJ-1A

CNSA

10:30 (D)
650 km

6/09/2008

 

CCD camera, Hyperspectral camera

Land, resource and environment monitoring

HJ-1B

CNSA

10:30 (D)
650 km

6/09/2008

 

CCD camera, IR camera

Land resource and environment monitoring

GOSAT
(IBUKI)

JAXA & Japan's Ministry of Environment

13:00 (D)
666km

23/01/2009

 

TANSO/FTS, TANSO/CAI

Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite monitoring the distribution of the density of carbon dioxide

GOCE

ESA

06:00 (A)
260 km

17/03/2009

Data products

Electrostatic Gravity Gradiometer
Satellite-to-Satellite Tracking Instrument

(Gravity field and Ocean steady-state Circulation Explorer)

Oceansat-2

ISRO

12:00am (D)
720 km

23/09/2009

 

OCM, ROSA , Scatterometer

ocean colour, Radio-occultation, ocean surface wind

SMOS

ESA

06:00 (A)
755 km

2/11/2009

Data

MIRAS (Microwave Imaging Radiometer using Aperture Synthesis)

L-band radiometer for Salinity & Soil Moisture observation

CRYOSAT-2

ESA

717 km
(92° incl)

8/04/2010

Data

SIRAL (SAR Interferometric Radar Altimeter) + DORIS

Polar ice monitoring

Resourcesat-2

ISRO

10:30 (D)
817 km

20/04/2011

 

AWIFS

Land monitoring 4-channel camera

SAC-D
Aquarius

CONAE / NASA

18:00 (A)
657 km

10/06/2011

 

L-band Radiometer and Scatterometer,
HSC, MWR, NIRST, ROSA, Carmen-I, SODAD

Sea surface salinity
Soil temperature, atmospheric sounding, space environment

HY-2A

CNSA, NSOAS

06:00 (D)
964 km

16/08/2011

 

Altimeter, MW radiometer, Scatterometer

Ocean monitoring

Megha-Tropiques

ISRO + CNES

Non sun-synchronous
(20° incl)

865 km

12/10/2011

MOSDAC

MADRAS (microwave imager), SAPHIR ( 183 GHz humidity microwave sounder), SCARAB (outgoing radiative flux at TOA), ROSA (Radio Occultation Sounder of the Atmosphere)

Monitoring convective systems, water cycle and energy budget in tropical atmosphere

GCOM-W1
"SHIZUKU"

JAXA

13:30 (A)
700 km

May 18 2012

 

AMSR-2

Global water and energy circulation.
Joining the A-train.

 

Table 6/6: Future Research&Development (R&D) satellites

Sorted by launch date. Click on the satellite name in the table below to find more information (external links)


Satellites

Space Agency

Equator Crossing Time
+
Altitude

Planned
Launch Date

Planned access to data or products
(Links)

Status, applications
and other information

Kanopus-V N1

ROSCOSMOS

510-540 km

2011

 

Monitoring of natural and man-made extreme events

SWARM

ESA

300/530 km
(3 spacecraft)

July 2012

 

Geomagnetic field

HJ-1C

CNSA

06:00 (D)
500 km

2012

 

Land monitoring S-band SAR

Lomonosovs

ROSCOSMOS/Moscow State University

510-540 km

2012

 

Monitoring of natural and man-made extreme events

SARAL-Altika

ISRO + CNES

06:00
800 km

2012

MOSDAC

Altika altimeter
Argos Data Collection System

CBERS-3

CNSA + AEB

10:30 (A)
778 km

End 2012

 

Land monitoring CCD camera, IRMSS, WFI

LDCM

NASA / US Geological Survey

828 km (at equator) sun-synchronous

12/2012

 

(Landsat Data Continuity Mission)
Extension of Landsat record of multispectral 30m resolution

OCO-2

NASA

13:25 (A)
705 km

02/2013

 

Orbiting Carbon Observatory (Remanufacturing of OCO spacecraft lost at launch on 24Feb 2009 )

Sentinel-3A

ESA / EUMETSAT

10:00 (D) 
815 km

10/2013

 

Ocean and global land monitoring
Radar altimeter (SRAL) and MWR, OLCI, SLSTR

ADM-Aeolus

ESA

18:00 (A)
405 km

2013

Presentation

Doppler Lidar (ALADIN) wind profile by aerosol, clouds and molecular backscatter

CBERS-4

CNSA + AEB

10:30 (A)
778 km

2014

 

Land monitoring CCD camera, IRMSS, WFI

GPM
(Core Observatory)

NASA / JAXA

407 km
Non sun-synchronous
(65° incl)

Feb 2014

Data access

Global Precipitation Measurement core spacecraft, follow-on and improvement of TRMM
Dual-frequency (Ka/Ku) Precipitation Radar (DPR), GPM Microwave Imager (GMI)

GCOM-C1
(Shizuku)

JAXA

10:30 (D)
798 km

Japan Fiscal Year 2014

 

Carbon cycle and radiation budget (Atmosphere, Ocean, Land and Cryosphere)

ALOS-2

JAXA

12:00
628km

Japan Fiscal Year 2014

 

PALSAR-2

SMAP

NASA

06:00
690 km

11/2014

 

(Soil Moisture Active and Passive mission)
L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar and L-band radiometer

Sentinel-3B

ESA / EUMETSAT

10:00 (D) 
815 km

2015

 

Ocean and global land monitoring
Radar altimeter (SRAL) and MWR, OLCI, SLSTR

ICESat-2

NASA

(94° incl)
600 km

10/2015

 

Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat Follow-on) Payload: GLAS

EarthCARE

ESA-JAXA

10:30 (D)
450 km

11/2015

 

ATLID, BBR, CPR, MSI, Cloud, radiation and aerosol interaction processes

GRACE-FO

NASA, DLR

Non-sun-synchronous
(89°incl)
485 km

2016

 

(Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On)
Accurate global and high-resolution determination of static and time-variable components of Earth's gravity field for ocean currents, ocean mass, and ice sheets. GPS atmospheric and ionospheric limb sounding measurements for pressure, temperature and humidity.

SWOT

NASA, CNES, USGS

TBD

2019

 

(Surface Water Ocean Topography)
KA-Band Radar Interferometer for lake levels, river discharge, and ocean surface topography.  Carbon Monoxide sensor.

ASCENDS

NASA

TBD

2019

 

(Active Sensing of Carbon dioxide Emissions over Nights, Days and Seasons)
Active laser measurements of Carbon Dioxide

PACE

NASA, CNES, ESA

TBD

2019

 

(Pre-Aerosols, Carbon and Ecosystems Mission)
Spectrometer measurements of ocean color, Polarimeter measurements of aerosols.