CloudSat exits A-train

CloudSat exits A-train

Artistic vision of NASA's CloudSat satellite

This week, representatives of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory reported a decrease in the orbit of a 12-year-old CloudSat satellite due to the loss of one of the reaction wheels controlling its orientation in orbit. The mission will continue its work, but will no longer be part of the A-train-6 (Day constellation) satellite team flying in a coordinated orbit to expand our understanding of the functioning of the Earth as a system.

CloudSat was launched in 2006 to improve understanding of the role of clouds in the climate system. A month later, the satellite became part of the A-train. In 2011, a problem arose that affected the battery’s ability to provide enough current to power all spacecraft systems when they were on the dark side of the planet. Therefore, engineers had to create a new mode of operation for CloudSat, which allowed them to continue scientific operations, but only at the moment when the satellite was on the day side.

Later a problem was added with the loss of one of the four reaction wheels. The device still could be engaged in science, but the loss of one more wheel will lead to the fact that it will not be able to change its orientation and will threaten the satellites from the A-train. In 2017, we noticed a dangerous friction, which led to the final decision on the withdrawal of the satellite from the group. On February 22, the satellite successfully conducted two engine roasting, lowering itself below the height of the A-train. Now they are planning to conduct telemetry in order to understand whether it is necessary to lower it even lower.

CloudSat is the first satellite to use the advanced cloud profiling radar to obtain a cloud “slice” to view the vertical structure. The device provided an opportunity for joint observation of clouds and precipitation, which highlighted the blind spots in the physics of climate models. He also managed to calculate the global snowfall. It turned out that the models overestimated the Antarctic snowfall by more than 100%.

A-train satellites move at an altitude of 438 km above the earth's surface. Together, these 15 tools function as a single mechanism for the global dimension of the planet.

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