CEOS EO HANDBOOK – MISSION SUMMARY - Sentinel CRISTAL-A -
Full Name Copernicus polaR Ice and Snow Topography ALtimeter - A
aka CRISTAL-A
Status Approved
Mission Agencies ESA, COM Launch Date Nov 2028
Mission Links mission site EOL Date May 2036
EO Portal Info NORAD Catalog #
International Designator
Orbit Type Inclined, non-sun-synchronous Orbit Period 99 minutes
Orbit Sense Orbit Inclination 92 deg
Orbit Altitude 690 km Orbit Longitude
Orbit LST Repeat Cycle 367 days
Objectives and Applications CRISTAL will monitor critical climate signals: ice sheet, ice cap melting and sea level, as well as to monitor variability of Arctic and Southern Ocean sea-ice and its snow loading to support Copernicus operational products and services concerning the polar regions.
Mission Measurements
CategoryParameterInstrument(s)
AtmosphereAtmospheric Humidity Fields AMR-C, AMR-CR, IRIS
LandMulti-purpose imagery (land) IRIS
OceanOcean topography/currents AMR-C, AMR-CR, IRIS
Ocean surface winds IRIS
Ocean wave height and spectrum IRIS
Snow & IceIce sheet topography IRIS
Sea ice cover, edge and thickness IRIS
Mission Instruments
AMR-C - Advanced Microwave Radiometer for Climate
AMR-CR - Advanced Microwave Radiometer for Climate
IRIS - Interferometric Radar Altimeter for Ice and Snow
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