SARAL satellite is a joint project of Indian Space Research Organisation and the French National Space Agency, to answer the need expressed by the ocean and climate study, and contribute to the building of a global ocean observing system.
The ALTIKA and ARGOS payloads are built and supplied by the French National Space Agency. The satellite building and launching are the responsibilities of Indian Space Research Organisation. The satellite bus is under fabrication at Indian Space Research Organisation. Integration and testing of the payloads are ongoing at the French National Space Agency.
The ISRO built satellite with payloads modules (AltiKa altimeter, DORIS, Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA) and ARGOS-3 (Advanced Research and Global Observation Satellite) data collection system provided CNES will be launched by Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle rocket into the sun synchronous orbit (SSO). The satellite is likely to be launched in 2011.
It will embark the AltiKa altimeter (working in Ka-band, 35 GHz), as well as a Doris instrument. Signal frequencies in the Ka-band will enable better observation of oceans, ice, rain, coastal zones, land masses, and wave heights. The SARAL mission is complementary to Jason-2. To ensure, in association with Jason-2, the continuity of the service given today by the altimeters onboard Envisat and Jason-1 satellites.
AltiKa/SARAL central objective :
- Ocean mesoSea scale variability : Sea state Monitoring & Now Casting
- Data assimilation: Sea state forecasting
- Coastal altimetry: (Bathymetry, coastal upwelling & circulations etc.)
Other Objectives :
- Operational oceanography
- Continental waters
- Inland ice sheet monitoring
- Light rainfall and clouds climatology
- Climate Change: Mean sea level
- Geodetic reference system determination
- Geophysical and geological investigations.
Oceanography Applications:
- Global warming, climate and seasonal forecasting, weather
- Fisheries and fishery management
- Offshore Industry
- Maritime security
- Navies
- Coastal application.
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