ISRO and the French National Space Centre (CNES) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today (November 12, 2004) to proceed with the development and implementation of the joint atmospheric satellite mission, Megha-Tropiques. Mr G Madhavan Nair, Chairman, ISRO and Mr Yannick d'Escatha, President, CNES, signed the MOU at Antariksh Bhavan, Bangalore, the Headquarters of ISRO. This MOU outlines the arrangements for the development of the satellite, its launch, its operations in orbit and utilisation of the scientific data obtained from the satellite.
Megha-Tropiques (Megha meaning cloud in Sanskrit and Tropiques meaning tropics in French) is meant for investigating the contribution of the water cycle in the tropical atmosphere to climate dynamics. The satellite will carry three scientific instruments:
*a Multi-frequency Microwave Scanning Radiometer (MADRAS) to be developed jointly by ISRO and CNES for providing information on rain above the oceans, integrated water vapour content in the atmosphere, liquid water in clouds, convective rain over land and sea
*a Multi-channel Microwave Instrument (SAPHIR) to be developed by CNES for providing vertical humidity profile in the atmosphere, and
*a Multi-channel Instrument (SCARAB), also to be developed by CNES, for providing data on the earth's radiation budget.
http://isro.org/pressrelease/Nov12_2004.htm
Megha-Tropiques (Megha meaning cloud in Sanskrit and Tropiques meaning tropics in French) is meant for investigating the contribution of the water cycle in the tropical atmosphere to climate dynamics. The satellite will carry three scientific instruments:
*a Multi-frequency Microwave Scanning Radiometer (MADRAS) to be developed jointly by ISRO and CNES for providing information on rain above the oceans, integrated water vapour content in the atmosphere, liquid water in clouds, convective rain over land and sea
*a Multi-channel Microwave Instrument (SAPHIR) to be developed by CNES for providing vertical humidity profile in the atmosphere, and
*a Multi-channel Instrument (SCARAB), also to be developed by CNES, for providing data on the earth's radiation budget.
http://isro.org/pressrelease/Nov12_2004.htm
: reminds me of the days when WC-121's were used for weather research and weather "anomaly" investigations.