BackForward Satellite Programme: Methane Remote Sensing Mission 

Programme details
Programme description
  • Single satellite programme for atmospheric chemistry.
  • Cooperative programme between CNES and DLR. Scientific activity performed by the French LMD (Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique) of CNRS and the German DLR Institute for Atmospheric Physics.  DLR responsible of the lidar development, CNES of the platform and the launch service.  Joint data management and exploitation.
  • Platform actively stabilised over 3 axes.
  • The design lifetime is 3 years.
  • The orbit is sunsynchronous, dawn-dusk at 6:00.
Data circulation
  • Data acquired in CNES and DLR stations.
  • Processing and distribution by the CNRS Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique and the DLR Institute for Atmospheric Physics,
Agencies CNES , DLR
Programme lifetime 2028 - 2031
Associated satellites and instruments

Note: red tag => no longer operational , green tag => operational , blue tag => planned