The European Remote Sensing satellite, ERS-2, is the follow-on mission to ERS-1 and was launched in April 1995. ERS-2 will over the years, 1995-98, continue the work begun by ERS-1; however the ERS-2 mission will have to deal with an even more demanding range of tasks. ERS-2 is equipped with additional new instruments that will measure the ozone content of the atmosphere and monitor changes in vegetation cover more effectively. What is more, the European Space Agency (ESA) exercised the option of operating the two craft "in tandem" for a period of time which opened up completely new perspectives for many research teams and high-tech firms.

Envisat-1 is the follow-on mission to ERS-2.

Mission Instrumentation:

ERS-2 has the following instrumentation onboard:

Synthetic aperture radar
Wind scaterrometer
Radar altimeter
Along-track scanning radiometer
Microwave sounder
Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment (GOME)
Precise Range and Range-Rate Equipment (PRARE)
Retroreflector array

Mission Parameters:

ERS-2 Parameters
Sponsor:	European Space Agency
Expected Life:	3-4 years
Primary Applications:	remote sensing and environmental monitoring
Primary SLR Applications:	calibration of satellite altimeter
COSPAR ID:	9502101
SIC Code:	6178
NORAD SSC Code:	23560
Launch Date:	April 21, 1995
RRA Diameter:	20 cm
RRA Shape:	hemispherical
Reflectors:	9 corner cube
Orbit:	circular
Inclination:	98.5 degrees
Eccentricity:	0.001
Perigee:	785 km
Period:	100 minutes
Weight:	2516 kg

Additional Information:

Web sites:

Publications:

Andersen, P.H., Aksnes, K., Skonnord, H., "Precise ERS-2 orbit determination using SLR, PRARE and RA observations", Journ. of Geod, Vol. 72, No. 7/8, pp. 421-429, 1998.
Massmann, F.H., Flechtner, F., Raimondo, J.C., and Reigber, Ch., "Impact of PRARE on ERS-2 POD", Advances in Space Research, Vol. 19, No.11, 1645-1648, 1997.
Reading, C., Stevenson, I., and de Villiers, N., "ERS-2 and Beyond", Magazine-ESA Bulletin, No. 65, pp. 95-99, 1991.
Ries, J.C., Bordi, J.J., and Urban, T.J., "Precise Orbits for ERS-2 Using Laser Ranging and PRARE Tracking", CSR-TM-99-03, Center for Space Research, The University of Texas at Austin, May 1999.
Visser, P.N.A.M., Scharoo, R, and Ambrosius, B.A.C., "Application of ERS-2 PRARE data for orbit determination and gravity field and station coordinate estimation", Adv. Space Res., 30, 2, pp. 249-254, 2002.