New Polar Ice and Snow Topography Mission

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Copernicus Polar Ice and Snow Topography Altimeter (CRISTAL) Mission

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With a launch prepared in 2027, the Copernicus Polar Ice and Snow Topography Altimeter, CRISTAL, objective will bring, for the very first time, a dual-frequency radar altimeter, and microwave radiometer, that will determine and keep an eye on sea-ice density, overlying snow depth, and ice-sheet elevations. Credit: Airbus

Monitoring the cryosphere is important to completely examine, forecast and adjust to environment irregularity and modification. Given the value of this delicate element of the Earth system, today ESA, in addition to Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space, have actually signed an agreement to establish the Copernicus Polar Ice and Snow Topography Altimeter objective, referred to as CRISTAL.

With a launch prepared in 2027, the CRISTAL objective will bring, for the very first time on a polar objective, a dual-frequency radar altimeter, and microwave radiometer, that will determine and keep an eye on sea-ice density, overlying snow depth and ice-sheet elevations.

These information will support maritime operations in the polar oceans and add to a much better understanding of environment procedures. CRISTAL will likewise support applications associated to seaside and inland waters, in addition to supplying observations of ocean topography.

The objective will make sure the long-lasting extension of radar altimetry ice elevation and topographic modification records, following on from previous objectives such as ESA’s Earth Explorer CryoSat objective and other heritage objectives.

With an agreement protected worth € 300 million, Airbus Defence and Space has actually been chosen to establish and construct the brand-new CRISTAL objective, while Thales Alenia Space has actually been selected as the prime specialist to establish its Interferometric Radar Altimeter for Ice and Snow (IRIS).

ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programmes, Josef Aschbacher, states, “I am extremely pleased to have the contract signed so we can continue the development of this crucial mission. It will be critical in monitoring climate indicators, including the variability of Arctic sea ice, and ice sheet and ice cap melting.”

The agreement for CRISTAL is the 2nd out of the 6 brand-new high-priority prospect objectives to be signed – after the Copernicus Carbon Dioxide Monitoring objective (CO2M) in late-July. The CRISTAL objective becomes part of the growth of the Copernicus Space Component program of ESA, in collaboration with the European Commission.

The European Copernicus flagship program supplies Earth observation and in situ information, in addition to a broad series of services for ecological tracking and defense, environment tracking and natural catastrophe evaluation to enhance the lifestyle of European residents.