***************************************************************************= *** dorismail 28-Feb-2023 13:24:10 Message No 1351 ***************************************************************************= *** Author: "Lemoine, Frank G. (GSFC-61A0)" Subject: SARAL/AltiKa celebrates 10 years in orbit Dear DORIS Colleagues: Please note the message below from Thiery Guinle (CNES), celebrating SARAL/AltiKa's ten years in orbit. In addition to its contribution to satellite altimetry, we note that the SARAL/AltiKa DORIS data were included in the development of the International DORIS Service (IDS) contributions to both ITRF2014 & ITRF2020, the most recent realizations of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF). Moreaux, G., et al., (2016). The International DORIS Service contribution to the 2014 realization of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame Adv. Space Res., 58 (12) (2016), pp. 2479-2504, doi:10.1016/j.asr.2015.12.021 Moreaux, G., Lemoine, F.G., Capdeville, H., Otten M., =A9t=ECp=E1nek, P., Saunier J. and Ferrage P. (2022, in press). The International DORIS Service contribution to the 2022 realization of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame. Adv. Space Res., doi:10.1016/j.asr.2022.07.012. Happy Birthday to SARAL/AltiKa. Regards, Frank Lemoine (Chair, International DORIS Service) NASA Goddard Space Flight Center =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Dear colleagues and friends of altimetry, CNES and ISRO are happy and proud to celebrate 10 years of SARAL. Launched on February 25, 2013 from the Indian base of Satish-Dhawan, with a= PSLV launcher, SARAL (Satellite for ARgos and ALtimetry) is a Franco-India= n collaboration with which EUMETSAT is associated. The satellite consists of an ISRO SSB (Small Satellite Bus) platform and a = CNES payload composed of ARGOS-3 and AltiKa instruments (altimeter, radiome= ter, DORIS, LRA). Imagined at the turn of the 3rd millennium, AltiKa brough= t a technological breakthrough with for the first time a Ka band altimeter = to measure the topography of the surface of the oceans. Still working perfectly, the altimeter of AltiKa continues to offer a bette= r resolution to the ground allowing to approach closer the coast or to have= access to rivers and lakes on continents and penetrate less profoundly int= o the snow or the ice so allowing to collect information of height on these= surfaces. So, besides contributing to the observation of the oceanic circu= lation of meso-scale (between 50 and 500 km) which is essential to understa= nd the dynamics of the ocean and its climatic impacts, the data of AltiKa a= re also widely used by the community of the glaciologists and the hydrologi= sts. Thanks to the constant investment of the ISRO, CNES and EUMETSAT operationa= l teams and despite worries about maintaining the precise track on the grou= nd and attitude control, SARAL is relentlessly pursuing its work as an ocea= n surveyor for the benefit of the international scientific community and th= e Copernicus Marine Service. ISRO and CNES are committed to operations at least until the end of 2023 an= d will jointly study during the year a possible continuation of the mission= in 2024 and beyond... Happy anniversary SARAL and all our wishes for good health... Thierry Guinle (CNES) on behalf ISRO, EUMETSAT and CNES teams Please do not reply directly to this message, but send comments and suggestions to IDS.central.bureau@cls.fr