Saral

An Isro (Indian Space Research Organization) satellite, Saral (Satellite with ARgos and ALtika), will embark the AltiKa altimeter (working in Ka-band, 35 GHz), built by Cnes, as well as a Doris instrument. Signal frequencies in the Ka-band will enable better observation of ice, rain, coastal zones, land masses (forests, etc.), and wave heights.

The Saral mission is complementary to Jason-2. Its objectives are:

• To realize precise, repetitive global measurements of sea surface height, significant wave heights and wind speed for
  • developping operational oceanography;
  • understanding of climate and developing forecasting capabilities;
  • operational meteorology.
• To ensure, from 2009, in association with Jason-2, the continuity of the service given today by the altimeters onboard Envisat and Jason-1,
• To answer the need expressed by the ocean and climate study international programs, and contribute to the building of a global ocean observing system.

The proposed payload integrates :

• a high-resolution AltiKa altimeter, that includes a bi-frequency radiometric function,
• the Doris precise orbitography system, in association with a laser retroflector (LRA).

The launch of this mission is planned for the end of 2009, with a life of 3 years (2 year for the nominal phase, and one year for the extended phase). This mission is a cooperation between Cnes and Isro.