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Observing Systems Capability Analysis and Review Tool
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Space-based Capabilities
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Overview
Programmes
Satellites
Instruments
Frequencies
Agencies
Satellite Status
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Satellite Programme: Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere & Climate
Programme details
Programme description
Series of satellite constellations (6 satellites each) for radio occultation sounding.
Joint Taiwan-USA programme: the Taiwan NSPO responsible of development, system integration and operations; the US UCAR providing the platform, the payload and the launch; NOAA responsible of bridging with the meteorological community.
The platforms are actively stabilised over 3 axes.
The design life time is 5 years for individual satellites, 7 years until some satellite of the constellation survives.
The replacement policy is based on launching a new constellation before the status of the previous is unacceptably degraded.
The 6 satellites are launched at once in the same drifting orbit, then dephased by about 30° during a time interval over one year long.
See detailed description at
http://www.cosmic.ucar.edu
.
An additional satellite TRITON (FORMOSAT-7R) for GNSS-R measurements is planned to be launched in 2023.
Data circulation
Data are stored onboard and downlinked to stations in Fairbanks, Kiruna, Tromsø, Taiwan and other ones.
Acquisition, processing and archiving at the UCAR CDAAC (COSMIC Data Analysis and Archive Center) and the NSPO TACC (Taiwan Analysis Center for COSMIC).
Data input into the meteorological Global Telecommunication System by NOAA.
Agencies
NSPO
,
NOAA
,
UCAR
Programme lifetime
2006 - 2029
Associated satellites and instruments
Note: red tag => no longer operational , green tag => operational , blue tag => planned
Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere & Climate
COSMIC-1
(2006-2020)
CERTO/TBB
IGOR
TIP
COSMIC-2
(2019-2026)
RFB
TGRS
VIDI
TRITON
(2023-2029)
GPSR