# CryoSat-2

> European Space Agency environmental research satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q870049](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q870049)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CryoSat-2)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cryosat-2

Here’s the structured knowledge entry for CryoSat-2:

---

## Summary  
CryoSat-2 is a European Space Agency (ESA) Earth observation satellite designed to study polar ice and monitor changes in Earth's cryosphere. It was launched in 2010 as a replacement for CryoSat-1, which was lost in a launch failure. The satellite provides critical data on ice thickness and sea-level rise.

## Key Facts  
- **Operator**: European Space Agency (ESA)  
- **Launch Date**: April 8, 2010  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Dnepr (converted ICBM)  
- **Launch Site**: Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 109  
- **Mass**: 750 kilograms  
- **Orbit**: Low Earth orbit (732 km apoapsis, 92° inclination)  
- **Orbital Period**: 99.2 minutes  
- **Preceded by**: CryoSat-1 (lost in 2005 launch failure)  
- **Manufacturer**: Astrium  
- **COSPAR ID**: 2010-013A  

## FAQs  
### Q: What is the purpose of CryoSat-2?  
A: CryoSat-2 is designed to measure changes in polar ice thickness and monitor Earth's cryosphere, providing data for climate research and sea-level rise studies.  

### Q: How does CryoSat-2 differ from CryoSat-1?  
A: CryoSat-2 is a replacement for CryoSat-1, which was lost during launch in 2005. Both satellites shared the same mission, but CryoSat-2 features improved instrumentation and redundancy.  

### Q: What type of orbit does CryoSat-2 use?  
A: CryoSat-2 operates in a low Earth orbit with an altitude of 732 km at apoapsis and an inclination of 92 degrees, optimized for polar ice observation.  

## Why It Matters  
CryoSat-2 plays a vital role in understanding climate change by providing precise measurements of polar ice thickness and extent. Its data helps scientists track melting ice sheets, glaciers, and sea ice, which are critical indicators of global warming. The satellite's observations contribute to models predicting sea-level rise and inform policy decisions on climate mitigation. As one of ESA's flagship Earth observation missions, CryoSat-2 bridges gaps left by earlier missions and supports international efforts to monitor environmental changes.  

## Notable For  
- **First dedicated mission**: CryoSat-2 is ESA's first satellite specifically designed to study polar ice thickness.  
- **High-inclination orbit**: Its 92° orbital inclination ensures comprehensive coverage of polar regions.  
- **Redundancy improvements**: Built with lessons from CryoSat-1's launch failure, ensuring higher reliability.  

## Body  
### Mission Overview  
- CryoSat-2 was launched on April 8, 2010, to study Earth's cryosphere, including ice sheets, glaciers, and sea ice.  
- It replaced CryoSat-1, which failed during launch in 2005 due to a rocket malfunction.  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Mass**: 750 kg  
- **Orbit**: Low Earth orbit (732 km apoapsis, 92° inclination)  
- **Orbital Period**: 99.2 minutes  
- **Manufacturer**: Astrium (now Airbus Defence and Space)  

### Instrumentation  
- Carries a Synthetic Aperture Interferometric Radar Altimeter (SIRAL) for precise ice thickness measurements.  

### Launch Details  
- Launched aboard a Dnepr rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 109.  
- COSPAR ID: 2010-013A.  

## Schema Markup  
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Satellite",
  "name": "CryoSat-2",
  "description": "European Space Agency environmental research satellite studying polar ice.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1148896",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CryoSat-2"
  ],
  "operatingSystem": "Low Earth orbit",
  "manufacturer": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Astrium"
  },
  "launchDate": "2010-04-08",
  "vehicleModel": "Dnepr"
}

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013