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Megha Tropiques Science Satellite to be Developed by France and India

India and France will jointly develop a new science satellite for atmospheric research that is scheduled for launch in late 2005. The satellite, Megha Tropiques, will be launched on the Indian Space Research Organization's (ISRO) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) to an altitude of about 520 miles, with an inclination of 20 degrees to the equator. The satellite will use the PROTEUS spacecraft platform developed by CNES. The satellite will be controlled in orbit by Centre National Des Etudes Spatiales (CNES - the French space agency), and the scientific data will be received and distributed by ISRO from Bangalore, India.

The satellite will carry three instruments to conduct research on the role of water cycles in the tropical atmosphere. The instruments will provide data on rain above the oceans, water vapor content in clouds and humidity in the atmosphere. The proposed scientific instruments are: a Multi-frequency Microwave Scanning Radiometer (MADRAS) to provide information on rain above the oceans, integrated water vapour content in the atmosphere, liquid water in clouds, convective rain over land and sea; a Multi-channel Microwave Instrument (SAPHIR), to provide vertical humidity profile in the atmosphere and a Multi-channel instrument (SCARAB) to provide data on the earth's radiation budget. MADRAS will be developed jointly by CNES and ISRO while the other two instruments will be supplied by CNES.

The satellite's name is a mixture of Sanskrit and French. “Megha” means clouds in Sanskrit, while “tropiques” translates as tropics in French.

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May 14, 2000