CALIPSO
Joint NASA-CNES lidar satellite for cloud and aerosol study.
CALIPSO (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations) was a joint NASA and CNES environmental satellite launched on 28 April 2006. It carried passive and active remote sensing instruments to monitor aerosols and clouds around the clock. The mission ended on 1 August 2023 after more than 17 years of operation.
Quick Facts
- Mission type
- Earth observation
- Dimensions
- 1.49 × 1.84 x
- Launch mass
- 587 kg / 1,294 lb
- Power
- 562 W
- Launch rocket
- Delta 7420-10C D314
- Launch site
- Vandenberg AFB SLC-2W
- Orbit regime
- Sun-synchronous
- Orbit periapsis
- 701 km / 436 mi
Facts from the source article.
Mission
CALIPSO carried three instruments. In February 2009, CALIPSO switched to the redundant laser as scheduled after the primary laser met its three-year goal; the redundant laser performed beyond expectations. The mission received extended mission status in June 2009. CALIPSO moved to the C-Train in 2018 and ended on 1 August 2023 due to lack of propellant.
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