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 an essential component of the altimetry constellation from 2011 onwards, re-occupying the long-term ERS and Envisat ground track. Saral/AltiKa will also provide the first demonstration of Ka-band altimeter capabilities for fine resolution along-track applications, including for coastal and inland water applications, which will be further developed for the future Swot mission. Its central objectives are:

• to carry out precise, repetitive global measurements of sea surface height for:
  • developing operational oceanography;
  • improving understanding of the climate and developing forecasting capabilities;
  • operational meteorology,
  • coastal, inland waters and ice applications.
• to ensure, in association with Jason-2, the continuity of the service currently provided by the altimeters onboard Envisat and Jason-1,
• to meet the requirements expressed by various international ocean and climate study programmes, and contribute to building a global ocean observing system.

The launch of this mission is planned for 2012, with a life of 3 years (2 year for the nominal phase, and one year for the extended phase).

Further information:

• Saral on the Cnes space scientific missions web site
• Presentations given during the "2nd SARAL/AltiKa Science Workshop" (Amhedabad, March 2011).
• N.Steunou, OSTST 2010, Altika, a new concept of altimeter for the Saral mission: description and pre-flight performances. pdf
• J.Verron, OSTST 2010, Keynote Talk: SARAL/AltiKa, Ka-band altimetry over oceans, coastal and hydrology surfaces, pdf
• N. Steunou, OST/ST 2008, Ka-band altimeter for Altika/SARAL oceanography mission, pdf