Gap analyses by variable or by type of mission or by WIGOS subcomponent

Please select either a variable or a type of mission to display a time chart of satellite instruments having the potential to provide the corresponding measurements. The selection is based on design characteristics (Expert analysis) or declared mission objectives (Simplified analysis). Such a preliminary analysis does not replace a detailed assessment of the actual instrument performances, data availability, and quality of derived environmental data records against specific user requirements.

Note: The chart can be sorted by clicking on the header columns and filtered by instrument properties when applicable. Select the period of interest with the cursor at the bottom of the chart. Future missions which are not firmly planned are shaded with stripes. A warning icon (Important note) indicates degraded satellite: hover over the icon for details. The chart is followed by a table of all potentially relevant instruments.

Select a variable

or select a type of mission

Select WIGOS subcomponents

Analysis
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In "Simplified" mode, the results in the analysis are calculated by looking at each instrument's mission objectives: for each instrument we keep track of what the primary, secondary, and opportunity mission objectives are. These mission objectives indicate that an instrument is primarily envisioned to measure variable X, Y and Z, that variables A, B and C are its secondary objective, and that it may offer the opportunity to measure variables I and II although it is not optimized for that. The simplified Gap analysis produces a timeline based on this information. The simplified Gap analysis is only available for analyzing variables, not for missions.
In "Expert system" mode, the results in the analysis are calculated with an expert system. Internally, OSCAR works with a large set of 1700 rules that determine whether or not an instrument is capable of measuring a given variable, and to what degree. When you select "Expert system", the Gap analysis is performed based on this large set of rules.

Variable sorting criteria

 

Each instrument is assigned with a 5-step rating, evaluated as a blend of several elements.  For this particular Variable, the rating is driven by:

  • the observing technique (altimetry, gravity measuring systems, positioning systems, navigation systems).

 

RATING CRITERIA:

1
  • Dedicated satellite equipped by laser retroreflectors
  • Radar altimeter flown in a geodetic orbit

2
  • Radar altimeter
  • Lidar altimeter

3
  • Satellite-to-satellite tracking
  • Accelerometer

4
  • GNSS positioning system
  • Radio positioning system
  • Laser retroreflector array

5
  • Star tracker
Measurement timeline for Geoid

Definition: Equipotential surface which would coincide exactly with the mean ocean surface of the Earth, if the oceans were in equilibrium, at rest, and extended through the continents (such as with very narrow channels) - Physical unit: [ cm ] - Accuracy unit: [ cm ].

Hint: Move around in the timeline by scrolling up, down, left or right.

Found 198 results

This table has a large number of results.
Hide inactive instruments
Instrument NRT? Relevance Satellite Orbit
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
2035
2036
2037
2038
2039
2040
2041
2042
2043
2044
2045
2046
2047
2048
2049
2050
2051
2052
LR1 - primarySTARLETTE49.8 °
X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
LR1 - primarySTELLA98.6 °
X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
LRA (ASI)1 - primaryLAGEOS-1109.8 °
X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
LRA (ASI)1 - primaryLAGEOS-252.6 °
X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
LRA (ASI)1 - primaryLARES-169.5 °
X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
LRA (ASI)1 - primaryLARES-270.16 °
X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
RRA1 - primaryGFZ-151.6 °
X
XXX
X
RRA (CNES)1 - primaryDiadéme-139.9 °
X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
RRA (CNES)1 - primaryDiadéme-239.4 °
X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
NRA1 - primaryTOPEX-Poseidon66 °
X
XXXXXXXXXXXX
X
Poseidon-21 - primaryJASON-166 °
X
XXXXXXXXXXX
X
Poseidon-31 - primaryJASON-266 °
X
XXXXXXXXXX
X
Poseidon-3BYes1 - primaryJASON-366 °
X
XXXXXXX
Poseidon-41 - primarySentinel-6A66 °
X
XXXXXXX
Poseidon-41 - primarySentinel-6B66 °XXXXXXXX
SSALT1 - primaryTOPEX-Poseidon66 °
X
XXXXXXXXXXXX
X
ALT (high)2 - very highHY-2C66 °
X
XXXXX
ALT (high)2 - very highHY-2F66 °XXXXXX
ALT (high)2 - very highHY-2G66 °XXXXXX
ALT (SeaSat)2 - very highSeaSat108 °
X
ALT (sso) Important note2 - very highHY-2A06:00 desc
X
XXXXXXXXXXX
ALT (sso)2 - very highHY-2B06:00 desc
X
XXXXX
ALT (sso)2 - very highHY-2E06:00 descXXXXXX
ALT (sso)2 - very highHY-2D66 °
X
XXXXX
AltiKa2 - very highSARAL05:56 asc
X
XXXXXXXXX
Altimeter2 - very highSWOT78 °XXXXX
Altimeter (COMPIRA)2 - very highCOMPIRA51 °XXXXX
GFO-RA2 - very highGFO108 °
X
XXXXXXXXX
X
GRA2 - very highGEOSat108 °
X
XXXX
X
RA2 - very highERS-110:30 desc
X
XXXXXXXX
X
RA2 - very highERS-210:30 desc
X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
X
RA-22 - very highEnvisat10:00 desc
X
XXXXXXXXX
X
SIRAL2 - very highCryoSat92 °
X
SIRALNo2 - very highCryoSat-292 °
X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
SRALYes2 - very highSentinel-3A10:00 desc
X
XXXXXXX
SRALYes2 - very highSentinel-3B10:00 desc
X
XXXXXXX
SRAL2 - very highSentinel-3C10:00 desc
X
XXXXXXX
SRAL2 - very highSentinel-3D10:00 descXXXXXXXX
IRIS (CRISTAL)2 - very highCRISTAL92 °
X
XXXXXXX
KaRIN2 - very highSWOT78 °XXXXX
SHIOSAI2 - very highCOMPIRA51 °XXXXX
SWIM2 - very highCFOSAT07:00 desc
X
XXXX
SWIM2 - very highCFOSAT follow-on07:00 desc
X
XXXXX
ATLAS2 - very highICESat-294 °
X
XXXXX
GLAS2 - very highICESat94 °
X
XXXXXX
X
GEDI Lidar2 - very highISS GEDI51.6 °
X
XXXXX
MOLI lidar2 - very highISS MOLI51.6 °XXXXXX
HAIRS Important noteNo3 - highGRACE (2 sats)89 °
X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
X
HAIRS Important note3 - highGRACE-FO (2 sats)89 °
X
XXXXX
SSTI3 - highGOCE06:00 asc
X
XXX
X
ACC Important note3 - highSWARM-C87.35 °
X
XXXXXXXXX
ACC Important note3 - highSWARM-B87.75 °
X
XXXXXXXXX
ACC Important note3 - highSWARM-A87.35 °
X
XXXXXXXXX
EGG3 - highGOCE06:00 asc
X
XXX
X
STAR3 - highCHAMP87 °
X
XXXXXXXXX
X
SuperSTAR Important noteNo3 - highGRACE (2 sats)89 °
X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
X
SuperSTAR Important note3 - highGRACE-FO (2 sats)89 °
X
XXXXX
AOPOD4 - fairKOMPSAT-506:00 asc
X
XXXXXXXXX
ARMA-MP4 - fairMeteor-MP N115:30 asc
X
XXXXXXX
ARMA-MP4 - fairMeteor-MP N209:30 desc
X
XXXXXXX
BlackJack (CHAMP) Important note4 - fairCHAMP87 °
X
XXXXXXX
X
BlackJack (GRACE) Important noteNo4 - fairGRACE (2 sats)89 °
X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
X
CION4 - fairCICERO
X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
CORISS4 - fairC/NOFS13 °
X
XXXXXX
X
GNOS Important noteYes4 - fairFY-3C08:20 desc
X
XXXXXXXXX
GNOSYes4 - fairFY-3D13:29 asc
X
XXXXX
GNOS-24 - fairFY-3E05:40 desc
X
XXXXXX
GNOS-24 - fairFY-3H14:00 ascXXXXXXX
GNOS-24 - fairFY-3F10:00 desc
X
XXXXXX
GNOS-24 - fairFY-3J05:00 desc
X
XXXXXXXX
GNOS-24 - fairFY-3G50 °
X
XXXX
GNOS-24 - fairFY-3I50 °
X
XXXXXXXX
GNSS-RO (Sentinel-6)4 - fairSentinel-6A66 °
X
XXXXXXX
GNSS-RO (Sentinel-6)4 - fairSentinel-6B66 °XXXXXXXX
GOLPE4 - fairSAC-C10:20 desc
X
XXXXXXXXXXXX
X
GPS/MET4 - fairOrbView-1/MicroLab70 °
X
XX
GRASNo4 - fairMetop-A07:50 desc
X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
X
GRASYes4 - fairMetop-B09:31 desc
X
XXXXXXXXXXXX
GRASYes4 - fairMetop-C09:31 desc
X
XXXXXXXXX
IGOR (COSMIC) Important noteNo4 - fairCOSMIC-172 °
X
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
X
IGOR (TacSat-2)4 - fairTacSat-240 °
X
X
Pyxis-RO4 - fairGNOMESTBD
X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
RO4 - fairMetop-SG-A209:30 descXXXXXXXX
RO4 - fairMetop-SG-A309:30 descXXXXXXXX
RO4 - fairMetop-SG-B109:30 descXXXXXXXX
RO4 - fairMetop-SG-B209:30 descXXXXXXXX
RO4 - fairMetop-SG-B309:30 descXXXXXXXX
RO4 - fairMetop-SG-A109:30 descXXXXXXXX
ROHPP4 - fairSEOSAR/Paz06:00 asc
X
XXXXX
ROSA Important note4 - fairMegha-Tropiques20 °
X
XXXXXXX
X
ROSA Important note4 - fairSAC-D06:00 desc
X
XXX
X
ROSA (OceanSat)No4 - fairOceanSat-211:53 desc
X
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
STRATOS4 - fairLemur-2
X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
TGRS (COSMIC-2)4 - fairCOSMIC-224 °
X
XXXXXXX
TOR4 - fairTerraSAR-X06:00 desc
X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
TOR4 - fairTanDEM-X06:00 desc
X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Tri-G (GRACE-FO) Important note4 - fairGRACE-FO (2 sats)89 °
X
XXXXX
TRSR (Ørsted) Important noteNo4 - fairØrsted96.5 °
X
XXXXXXX
DDMI4 - fairCYGNSS (8 sats)35 °
X
XXXXXXX
GAP Important note4 - fairCASSIOPE80.97 °
X
XXXXXXX
X
GPS (ESA)Yes4 - fairSentinel-3A10:00 desc
X
XXXXXXX
GPS (ESA)4 - fairSMOS06:00 asc
X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
GPS (ESA)4 - fairSWARM-C87.35 °
X
XXXXXXXXX
GPS (ESA)4 - fairSWARM-B87.75 °
X
XXXXXXXXX
GPS (ESA)4 - fairSentinel-6A66 °
X
XXXXXXX
GPS (ESA)4 - fairSentinel-6B66 °XXXXXXXX
GPS (ESA)4 - fairSWARM-A87.35 °
X
XXXXXXXXX
GPS (ESA)Yes4 - fairSentinel-3B10:00 desc
X
XXXXXXX
GPS (ESA)4 - fairSentinel-3C10:00 desc
X
XXXXXXX
GPS (ESA)4 - fairSentinel-3D10:00 descXXXXXXXX
GPS (ESA)4 - fairCRISTAL92 °
X
XXXXXXX
GPS (NASA)4 - fairLandsat-410:00 desc
X
XXXXXXXXXXX
GPS (NASA)4 - fairLandsat-509:45 desc
X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
X
GPSDR4 - fairTOPEX-Poseidon66 °
X
XXXXXXXXXXXX
X
PES4 - fairIonosphera-M N1 & N2TBD
X
XXX
PES4 - fairIonosphera-M N3 & N4TBD
X
XXX
TRSR4 - fairGFO108 °
X
XXXXXXXXX
X
TRSR4 - fairICESat94 °
X
XXXXXX
X
TRSR4 - fairICESat-294 °
X
XXXXX
TRSR Important note4 - fairJASON-166 °
X
XXXXXXX
X
TRSR4 - fairJASON-266 °
X
XXXXXXXXXX
X
TRSRYes4 - fairJASON-366 °
X
XXXXXXX
DORIS4 - fairCryoSat92 °
X
DORISNo4 - fairCryoSat-292 °
X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
DORIS4 - fairEnvisat10:00 desc
X
XXXXXXXXX
X
DORIS Important note4 - fairHY-2A06:00 desc
X
XXXXXXXX
X
DORIS4 - fairJASON-166 °
X
XXXXXXXXXXX
X
DORIS4 - fairJASON-266 °
X
XXXXXXXXXX
X
DORISYes4 - fairJASON-366 °
X
XXXXXXX
DORIS4 - fairSARAL05:56 asc
X
XXXXXXXXX
DORISYes4 - fairSentinel-3A10:00 desc
X
XXXXXXX
DORIS4 - fairSPOT-210:30 desc
X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
X
DORIS4 - fairSPOT-310:30 desc
X
XX
X
DORIS4 - fairSPOT-410:30 desc
X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
X
DORIS4 - fairSPOT-510:30 desc
X
XXXXXXXXXXXX
X
DORIS4 - fairTOPEX-Poseidon66 °
X
XXXXXXXXXXXX
X
DORIS4 - fairSentinel-6A66 °
X
XXXXXXX
DORIS4 - fairSentinel-6B66 °XXXXXXXX
DORIS4 - fairHY-2B06:00 desc
X
XXXXX
DORIS4 - fairHY-2C66 °
X
XXXXX
DORIS4 - fairHY-2D66 °
X
XXXXX
DORIS4 - fairHY-2E06:00 descXXXXXX
DORIS4 - fairHY-2F66 °XXXXXX
DORIS4 - fairHY-2G66 °XXXXXX
DORISYes4 - fairSentinel-3B10:00 desc
X
XXXXXXX
DORIS4 - fairSentinel-3C10:00 desc
X
XXXXXXX
DORIS4 - fairSentinel-3D10:00 descXXXXXXXX
PRARE Important note4 - fairERS-110:30 desc
X
PRARE Important note4 - fairERS-210:30 desc
X
XXXXXXXXXXX
X
PRARE4 - fairMeteor-3-682.5 °
X
X
X
LRA (CNES)4 - fairSARAL05:56 asc
X
XXXXXXXXX
LRA (KARI)4 - fairSTSat-2C80 °
X
X
LRA (NASA)4 - fairGFO108 °
X
XXXXXXXXX
X
LRA (NASA) Important note4 - fairHY-2A06:00 desc
X
XXXXXXXX
X
LRA (NASA)4 - fairICESat94 °
X
XXXXXX
X
LRA (NASA)4 - fairICESat-294 °
X
XXXXX
LRA (NASA)4 - fairJASON-166 °
X
XXXXXXXXXXX
X
LRA (NASA)4 - fairJASON-266 °
X
XXXXXXXXXX
X
LRA (NASA)Yes4 - fairJASON-366 °
X
XXXXXXX
LRA (NASA)4 - fairTOPEX-Poseidon66 °
X
XXXXXXXXXXXX
X
LRA (NASA)4 - fairSentinel-6A66 °
X
XXXXXXX
LRA (NASA)4 - fairSentinel-6B66 °XXXXXXXX
LRA (NASA)4 - fairHY-2B06:00 desc
X
XXXXX
LRA (NASA)4 - fairHY-2C66 °
X
XXXXX
LRA (NASA)4 - fairHY-2D66 °
X
XXXXX
LRA (NASA)4 - fairHY-2E06:00 descXXXXXX
LRA (NASA)4 - fairHY-2F66 °XXXXXX
LRA (NASA)4 - fairHY-2G66 °XXXXXX
LRR (DLR)4 - fairCHAMP87 °
X
XXXXXXXXX
X
LRR (DLR)No4 - fairGRACE (2 sats)89 °
X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
X
LRR (DLR) Important note4 - fairGRACE-FO (2 sats)89 °
X
XXXXX
LRR (DLR)4 - fairKOMPSAT-506:00 asc
X
XXXXXXXXX
LRR (DLR)4 - fairSWARM-C87.35 °
X
XXXXXXXXX
LRR (DLR)4 - fairSWARM-B87.75 °
X
XXXXXXXXX
LRR (DLR)4 - fairSWARM-A87.35 °
X
XXXXXXXXX
LRR (DLR)4 - fairSEOSAR/Paz06:00 asc
X
XXXXX
LRR (ESA)4 - fairCryoSat92 °
X
LRR (ESA)No4 - fairCryoSat-292 °
X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
LRR (ESA)4 - fairEnvisat10:00 desc
X
XXXXXXXXX
X
LRR (ESA)4 - fairERS-110:30 desc
X
XXXXXXXX
X
LRR (ESA)4 - fairERS-210:30 desc
X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
X
LRR (ESA)4 - fairGOCE06:00 asc
X
XXX
X
LRR (ESA)Yes4 - fairSentinel-3A10:00 desc
X
XXXXXXX
LRR (ESA)Yes4 - fairSentinel-3B10:00 desc
X
XXXXXXX
LRR (ESA)4 - fairSentinel-3C10:00 desc
X
XXXXXXX
LRR (ESA)4 - fairSentinel-3D10:00 descXXXXXXXX
LRR (ESA)4 - fairCRISTAL92 °
X
XXXXXXX
LRR (NASA)4 - fairSeaSat108 °
X
RIS4 - fairADEOS10:30 desc
X
X
ASC5 - marginalCHAMP87 °
X
XXXXXXXXX
X
ASC Important noteNo5 - marginalØrsted96.5 °
X
XXXXXXX
IST5 - marginalSAC-C10:20 desc
X
XXXXXXXXXXXX
X
SCA (GRACE) Important noteNo5 - marginalGRACE (2 sats)89 °
X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
X
SCA (GRACE) Important note5 - marginalGRACE-FO (2 sats)89 °
X
XXXXX
STA5 - marginalSMOS06:00 asc
X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
STR (SWARM)5 - marginalSWARM-C87.35 °
X
XXXXXXXXX
STR (SWARM)5 - marginalSWARM-B87.75 °
X
XXXXXXXXX
STR (SWARM)5 - marginalSWARM-A87.35 °
X
XXXXXXXXX
All instruments for measuring Geoid
Instruments Relevance Operational limitations
LR1 - primary
LRA (ASI)1 - primary
RRA1 - primary
RRA (CNES)1 - primary
NRA1 - primary
Poseidon-21 - primary
Poseidon-31 - primary
Poseidon-3B1 - primary
Poseidon-41 - primary
SSALT1 - primary
ALT (high)2 - very high
ALT (SeaSat)2 - very high
ALT (sso)2 - very high
AltiKa2 - very high
Altimeter2 - very high
Altimeter (COMPIRA)2 - very high
GFO-RA2 - very high
GRA2 - very high
RA2 - very high
RA-22 - very high
SIRAL2 - very high
SRAL2 - very high
IRIS (CRISTAL)2 - very high
KaRIN2 - very high
SHIOSAI2 - very high
SWIM2 - very high
ATLAS2 - very high
GLAS2 - very high
GEDI Lidar2 - very high
MOLI lidar2 - very high
VCL2 - very high
HAIRS3 - high
SSTI3 - high
ACC3 - high
EGG3 - high
STAR3 - high
SuperSTAR3 - high
AOPOD4 - fair
ARMA-MP4 - fair
BlackJack (CHAMP)4 - fair
BlackJack (GRACE)4 - fair
CION4 - fair
CORISS4 - fair
GNOS4 - fair
GNOS-24 - fair
GNSS-RO4 - fair
GNSS-RO (Sentinel-6)4 - fair
GOLPE4 - fair
GPS/MET4 - fair
GRAS4 - fair
IGOR (COSMIC)4 - fair
IGOR (TacSat-2)4 - fair
IGOR (TanDEM)4 - fair
Pyxis-RO4 - fair
Radiomet4 - fair
RO4 - fair
ROHPP4 - fair
ROSA4 - fair
ROSA (OceanSat)4 - fair
STRATOS4 - fair
TGRS (COSMIC-2)4 - fair
TOR4 - fair
Tri-G (GRACE-FO)4 - fair
TRSR (Ørsted)4 - fair
DDMI4 - fair
GAP4 - fair
GPS (ESA)4 - fair
GPS (NASA)4 - fair
GPSDR4 - fair
PES4 - fair
TRSR4 - fair
DORIS4 - fair
PRARE4 - fair
LRA (CNES)4 - fair
LRA (KARI)4 - fair
LRA (NASA)4 - fair
LRR (DLR)4 - fair
LRR (ESA)4 - fair
LRR (NASA)4 - fair
RIS4 - fair
ASC5 - marginal
IST5 - marginal
SCA (GRACE)5 - marginal
STA5 - marginal
STR (SWARM)5 - marginal