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CryoSat takes significant step towards final completion   Artist's impression of CryoSat in orbit over southern Greenland ice sheet. The launch of the CryoSat spacecraft was unfortunately aborted on 8 October 2005 due to a malfunction of its Rockot launcher, which resulted in the total loss of the spacecraft.
At the latest meeting of the European Space Agency's Earth Observation Programme Board, which took place at ESA’s Headquarters in Paris on 23 and 24 February 2006, ESA received the green light from its Member States to build and launch a CryoSat recovery mission, CryoSat-2.  CryoSat satellite design. View highlights the solar panel coated 'roof' to the platform, together with the distinctive twin antennas of the SIRAL radar altimeter instrument, along with the DORIS antenna and X- and S-band telemetry antennas.  Photograph showing the CryoSat satellite platform being constructed in the spacecraft integration facility at Astrium GmbH, Friedrichshafen, Germany.  The X-band radar sub-system undergoing testing in the prime-contractor's facility Release date: 9 August 2005 |