Topex/Poseidon satellite - Enabling a joint U.S.-French mission for global ocean studyA joint U.S./French mission, which represents a merging of the prior NASA Topex and CNES Poseidon progams, is described. The Topex/Poseidon satellite will contribute to two of the World Climate Research Program's phases: the World Ocean Circulation Experiment and the Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere experiment. The satellite's instruments will measure the ocean currents and their variability on the global basis via satellite altimetry and precision orbit determinations. The paper describes the satellite configuration and characteristics and the mission instruments and system elements. The Topex/Poseidon's design diagrams and block diagrams are included.
Document ID
19910029180
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Hall, Ralph L. (Fairchild Space and Defense Corp. Germantown, MD, United States)