CryoSat-2とは 意味・読み方・使い方

CryoSat-2 is a European Space Agency environmental research satellite which was launched in April 2010. It provides scientists with unprecedented data about the polar ice caps and track changes in the thickness of the ice down to around half an inch. This is seen as vital information for monitoring climate change.[1] Cryosat 2 was built as a replacement for the CryoSat-1 which Rokot carrier rocket was unable to achieve orbit. ESA built an advanced replacement, with software upgrades and greater battery capacity powering an interferometric radar range-finder with twin antennas which measures the height difference between floating ice and open water. CryoSat-2 is operated as part of the CryoSat programme to study the Earth's polar ice caps, which is itself part of the Living Planet programme. The CryoSat-2 spacecraft was constructed by EADS Astrium, and was launched by ISC Kosmotras, using a Dnepr-1 carrier rocket, on 8 April 2010. On 22 October 2010, CryoSat-2 was declared operational following six months of on-orbit testing.