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ERS-1

Jump to: Mission Objectives, Mission Instrumentation, Mission Parameters, Additional Information

Mission Photos:

ERS-1
Courtesy of Eurimage

Mission Objectives:

The European Remote Sensing satellite, ERS-1, is part of a family of multi-disciplinary Earth Observation Satellites (ERS-1, ERS-2, Enivsat-1). In its first three years, ERS-1 has revolutionized many areas of the Earth sciences and their practical applications. The ERS user community is now made up of thousands of scientists and hundreds of universities, research institutes and firms from all parts of the world. ERS-2 is the follow-on mission to ERS-1 and was launched in April 1995. Both satellite having similar instrumentation, allowing applications to profit from the tandem operation of both satellites.

The ERS-1 PRARE system failed shortly after launch and Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) became the only technique for determining ERS-1 precision orbits. The SLR precision orbits are used to calibrate the radar altimeter. ERS-1 was the first European satellite to carry a radar altimeter.

The calibrated radar altimeter data is used to determine ocean surface heights. This ocean height data, in turn, is used to monitor global ocean circulation, regional ocean current systems, and study the marine gravity field.

Mission Instrumentation:

ERS-1 has the following instrumentation onboard:

  • Synthetic aperture radar
  • Wind scaterrometer
  • Radar altimeter
  • Along-track scanning radiometer
  • Microwave sounder
  • Precise Range and Range-Rate Equipment (PRARE)
  • Retroreflector array
Mission Parameters:
Sponsor: European Space Agency
Expected Life: 3 years, (has been exceeded)
Primary Applications: remote sensing and environmental monitoring
Primary SLR Applications: calibration of satellite altimeter
COSPAR ID: 9105001
SIC Code: 6177
Satellite Catalog (NORAD) Number: 21574
Launch Date: July 17, 1991
RRA Diameter: 20 cm
RRA Shape: hemispherical
Reflectors: 9 corner cube
Orbit: circular
Inclination: 98.5 degrees
Eccentricity: 0.001
Perigee: 780 km
Period: 100 minutes
Weight: 2400 kg

Additional Information:

Web sites:

Publications:

  • Andersen P.H., Aksnes, K., and Hauge, S., "Precise ERS-1 Orbit Calculation", Bulletin Geodesique, Vol. 69, No. 4, pp. 192-199, 1995.
  • Andrews, D., Dodsworth, S J. and McKay, M.H., "The Control and Monitoring of ERS-1," Magazine-ESA Bulletin, No. 65, pp. 73-79, 1991.
  • Bianco, G., Cenci, A., Devoti, R., Fermi, M., Luceri, C., and Rutigliano, P., Sciarretta, C. ERS-1 Precise Orbit Determination with SLR Data, Proc. of the 9th International Workshop on Laser Ranging Instrumentation, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra, p. 357, 1994.
  • Duchossois, G., "The ERS-1 Mission Objectives", Magazine-ESA Bulletin, No. 65, pp. 16-26, 1991.
  • ESA, ERS-1 European Remote Sensing Satellite, -Brochure/poster, 1990.
  • Ege, H., "Industrial Cooperation on ERS-1", Magazine-ESA Bulletin, No. 65, pp. 88-94, 1991.
  • Ehlers, S., and Moore, P., "Improvement of ERS-1 orbits using along-track accelerations from DORIS data on SPOT2, 12, 8", pp 775-784, Annales Geophysicae, 1993.
  • Fea, M., "The ERS Ground Segment", Magazine-ESA Bulletin, No. 65, pp. 49-59, 1991.
  • Fea, M., and Bruzzi, S., "How ERS Data Will Flow", Magazine-ESA Bulletin, No. 65, pp. 60-62, 1991.
  • Francis, R., Graf, G., Edwards, P.G., McCraig, M., McCarthy, C., Dubock, P., Levebvre, A., Pieper, B., Pouvreau, P.Y., Wall, R., Wechsler, F., Louet, J., and Zobl, R., "The ERS-1 Spacecraft and Its Payload", Magazine-ESA Bulletin", No. 65, pp. 27-48, 1991.
  • Knudsen, P., Andersen, O.B., and Tscherning, C.C., "Altimetric Gravity Anomalies in the Norwegian-Greenland Sea-Preliminary Results from the ERS-1 35-Days Repeat Mission", -preprint of a paper submitted to Geophys. Res. Let.. Contains a nice color figure of gravity anomalies in the Norwegian-Greenland Sea, 1992.
  • Koenig, R., Massmann, F.H., Raimindo, J.C., Rajasenan, C., and Reigber, Ch., "On the Accuracy of ERS-1 Orbit Predictions", Proc. 8th Intern. Workshop on Laser Ranging Instrumentation, Annapolis, MD, May 18-22, 1993, NASA Conference Publ. 3214, p. 9-1, 1992.
  • Konig, R., "Predictions for ERS-1", Proc. of the 7th International Workshop on Laser Ranging Instrumentation, Matera, Italy October 2-8, published by OCA/CERGA, Grasse, France, p. 355, 1989.
  • Massmann, F.H., "The ERS-1/2 Missions", Laser Ranging Newsletter, SLR/LLR Subcommission of the CSTG (International Coordination of Space Techniques for Geodesy and Geodynamics), page 17, May 1996.
  • Massmann, F.H., "Tracking of the ERS-1 Satellite", Satellite Laser Ranging Newsletter, SLR Subcommission of the CSTG, 7-8, November 1993.
  • Massmann, F.H., Neumayer, K.H., Raimondo, J.C., Enninghorst, K., and Li, H., "Quality of the D-PAF ERS Orbits before and after the inclusion of PRARE Data", Proc. of 3rd ERS Symposium in Florence, ESA SP-414, 1655-1660, March 1997.
  • Massmann, F.H., Reigber, Ch., Bode, A., Chen, Z., Koenig, R., Raimondo, J.C., and Rajasenan, C., "ERS-1 Orbit Products from D-PAF", Supplement to CERSAT News, Issue No. 3, June 1994.
  • Massmann, F.H., Reigber, Ch., Koenig, R., Raimondo, J.C., and Rajasenan, C., "ERS-1 Orbit Information provided by D-PAF", In: Proc. of the Second ERS-1 Symposium, ESA SP-361, Vol. II, 765-770, 1994.
  • Massmann, F.H., Reigber, Ch., Koenig, R., Raimondo, J.C., and Rajasenan, C., "Operational ERS-1 Orbit Determination at D-PAF", Proc. of the First ERS-1 Symposium-Space at the Service of our Environment, Cannes, ESA SP-359, Vol. 1, 451-455, 1993.
  • Massmann, F.H., Reigber, Ch., Raimondo, J.C., and Rajasenan, C., "Operational ERS-1 Orbit Determination at D-PAF", Proc. Volume 1, Sixth International Geodetic Symposium on Satellite Positioning, OSU Columbus, USA, 1992.
  • Massmann, F.H., and Raimondo, J.C. "ERS Precise Orbit Determination: Where do we stand?", Abstracts AGU 1996 Spring Meeting, Suppl. to Eos, 23 April 1996, p. 76, American Geophysical Union, 1996.
  • O'Brien, D.M., and Prata, A.J., "Navigation of ERS-1 Along-Track Scanning Radiometer (ATSR) Images", journal-ESA Journal, V.14, pp. 447-466, 1990.
  • Ries, J.C., Bordi, J.J., and Urban, T.J., "Precise Orbits for ERS-1 Using Laser Ranging and Altimeter Crossovers", CSR-TM-99-02, Center for Space Research, The University of Texas at Austin, March 1999.
  • Schwintzer, P., Reigber, C., Barth, W., Massmann, F.H., Raimondo, J.C., Gerstl, M., Bode, A., Li, H., Balmino, G., Biancale, R., Moynot, B., Lemoine, J.M., Marty, J.C., Barlier, F., and Boudon, Y., "GRIM4 Earth Gravity Field Models in Support of ERS-1 and SPOT-2", -Viewgraphs presented at the 20th IUGG Meeting, Vienna, 1991.
  • Schwintzer, P., Reigber, Ch., Bode, A., Chen, Z., Massmann, F.H., Raimondo, J.C. (GFZ), and Lemoine, J.M., Balmino, G., Biancale, R., Moynot, B., Marty, C., Barlier, F., and Boudon, Y. "(GRGS): Improvement of GRIM4 Earth Gravity Models Using GEOSAT Altimeter and SPOT-2 and ERS-1 Satellite Tracking Data", In: Montag, H., Reigber, Ch. (Eds.): Geodesy and Physics of the Earth-Geodetic Contributions to Geodynamics. International Association of Geodesy Symposia No. 112, Potsdam, 1992, 75-78, Springer, London, 1993.
  • Schwintzer, P., Reigber, Ch., Bode, A., Chen, Z., Massmann, F.H., Raimondo, J.C.(GFZ) and Biancale, R., Balmino, G., Lemoine, J.M., Moynot, B., Marty, J.C., Barlier, F., and Boudon, Y. "(GRGS): The Earth's Gravity Model for the ERS-1 Commissioning Phase", Proc. First ERS-1 Symposium-Space at the Service of our Environment, Cannes 1992, ESA SP-359, 473-476, 1993.
  • Schwintzer, P., Reigber, Ch., Bode, A., Kang, Z., Zhu, S.Y., Massmann, F.H., Raimondo, J.C. (GFZ), and Biancale, R., Balmino, G., Lemoine, J.M., Moynot, B., Marty, J.C., Barlier, F., Boudon, Y. "(GRGS): Improvement of Global Gravity Field Modelling for ERS-1", Proc. 2nd ERS-1 Symposium 'Space at the Service of our Environment', Hamburg 1993, ESA SP-361, 771-775, Nordwijk, The Netherlands 1994.
  • Sinclair, A.T., "The Determination of Orbit Corrections by Short-Arc Techniques", with Application to ERS-1, - V.14, pp. 238-246, 1989.
  • Wakker, K.F., Ambrosius, B.A.C., Zandbergen, R.C.A., and van Geldorp, G.H.M., "February Precise orbit computation, gravity model adjustment and altimeter data processing for the ERS-1 altimetry mission", final report ESA contract6140/84/D/IM, 32 p., ESA CR(P)-2436, 1987.
  • Wakker, K.F., Zandbergen, R.C.A., and Ambrosius, B.A.C., "SEASAT orbit determination experiments in preparation for the ERS-1 altimetry mission", Astrodynamics,1987, Proc. of the AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Conference, Kalispell, August1987, in J.K. Soldner, A.K. Misra, R.E. Lindberg, W. Williamson (eds.),Univelt Inc., San Diego, p. 287-310, 1988.
  • Zandbergen, R.C.A., Wakker, K.F., and Ambrosius, B.A.C., "Analysis of radial orbit-errors of ERS-1 and the development of super-tailored gravity models", 26th COSPAR congress, Toulouse, Adv. Space Res., Vol. 6 No. 9, p., 183-194, 1986.