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Last update: August 29, 2025

ENVISAT: Ten Years of Uninterrupted Observation of Earth's Ecosystems

ENVISAT satellite in orbit

The ENVISAT Mission

ENVISAT (ENVIronmental SATellite) was the largest Earth observation satellite ever built by the European Space Agency (ESA). Launched on March 1, 2002, by an Ariane 5 rocket from the Guiana Space Center, this 8.2-ton, 10-meter-long colossus revolutionized global environmental monitoring for a decade. Its mission ended abruptly on April 8, 2012, after a sudden loss of communication, but its scientific legacy remains considerable.

Technical Characteristics and Instruments

ENVISAT carried a sophisticated suite of 10 scientific instruments designed to simultaneously measure various terrestrial, atmospheric, and oceanic parameters:

Major Scientific Contributions

Ocean Monitoring

The RA-2 altimeter measured the ocean surface topography with centimeter precision, enabling the study of marine currents, ocean circulation, and sea level rise. MERIS quantified chlorophyll-a, providing crucial data on phytoplankton productivity and the health of marine ecosystems.

Atmospheric Monitoring

The MIPAS, SCIAMACHY, and GOMOS instruments made detailed measurements of atmospheric trace gases, monitoring the evolution of the ozone layer, aerosol distribution, and the concentration of greenhouse gases such as CO₂ and CH₄. This data was vital for climate change studies.

Land Monitoring

ASAR provided radar images independent of weather conditions and solar illumination, enabling the monitoring of polar ice, forests, soils, and urban areas. MERIS tracked the state of vegetation and land use changes on a global scale.

Technical Specifications of the Platform

Main technical characteristics of ENVISAT
ParameterValueDescriptionImportance
Launch mass8211 kgHeaviest civil observation satelliteCapacity to carry multiple instruments
Dimensions10 m × 4 m × 4 mWingspan with deployed panels: 26 mAvailable volume for instruments
OrbitPolar sun-synchronousAltitude: 800 km, inclination: 98.55°Global repetitive coverage
Revolution period101 minutes14.3 orbits/dayRevisit frequency
Electrical power6500 W70 m² solar panelsPower supply for instruments
Expected lifespan5 yearsEffective mission: 10 years, 1 monthRobustness and reliability
Data rate100 MbpsTransmission in X and Ka bandsLarge volume of scientific data

Source: ESA Earth Online - ENVISAT Mission and ESA - ENVISAT Mission Details.

Successors: Copernicus

Although the ENVISAT mission ended prematurely, its scientific legacy continues through the Sentinel missions of the Copernicus program. The Copernicus program, launched by the European Union in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), is planned for long-term operation, at least until 2030, with the possibility of extension beyond depending on operational needs and funding.

Objective of the Copernicus program: to provide continuous and sustainable Earth observation, with free data for environmental monitoring, agriculture, disaster management, and climate change tracking.

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