A real challenge for Europe
A European initiative
Monitoring our planet and its environment is one of the European Union's top priorities. The ambitious Envisat programme is a key reflection of this policy.
Crédits : ESA
Envisat is the largest satellite ever built in Europe. Its final cost is 2.5 billion euros. This figure includes the development and construction of the satellite's instruments, its launch by Ariane 5 and operating costs for the 5 years originally planned. ESA has recently extended the satellite's mission lifetime through 2013.
CNES's role
Earth observation is a priority for the French space agency. In this framework, CNES's ambition is to orient ESA projects toward complementary actions and to develop new, innovative assets and resources to observe the Earth and the oceans.
France finances 25% of the Envisat programme through CNES, and through scientific and industrial laboratories. In addition to this funding commitment, CNES is is playing a key technical role in the programme.
CNES participates in the development and use of the instruments aboard Envisat, in the operations of ground installations, in the follow-up of data validation and calibration.
Predictions from space
Using its suite of 10 instruments, Envisat can observe, probe and analyse the atmosphere and ocean. Its measurements will enrich global databases in order to better foresee environmental and climatic changes.
Envisat satellite - © ESA/A.Van Der Geest
For each instrument, a Science Advisory Group (SAG) establishes recommendations for data processing, the products which can be derived from the data, and their validation. This provides researchers with efficient tools to measure the intensity of phenomena and processes taking place, to study their variations, and to determine long-term trends.
