Envisat Is Launched

Dr. Merkwürdigliebe writes: "Envisat, also called "The Green Eye", was successfully launched from Kourou in French Guyana by an Ariane 5 rocket. At a hefty 8 tons and 10 meters in lenght, it's ESA's biggest launch yet. The satellite, financed by Europe's ESA members and Canada, carries 10 very sensitive instruments for monitoring the Earth's climate and once deployed should provide scientists with more detailed and much needed data on the general health of the planet, which could prove critical in better understanding of various environmental issues, such as pollution, climate change, ozone-damage, etc."

The last of the dinosaurs

[codexus]

Maybe that's what this huge satellite is, as most satellites tend to be ever lighter and cheaper. I'm glad there was no problem with this launch, the data collecting by this one will be quite interesting.

Re:The last of the dinosaurs

[Solo Darklighter]

Last of the dinosaurs... I think not. Just the opposite; satellites are getting heavier and heavier, that's why in 2006 Ariane V will be able to launch up to 11 metric tonnes to geosynchronous transfer orbit.

not all members

[emir]

> The satellite, financed by Europe's ESA members and Canada

actually 2 of esa's countries are not financing it (ireland & portugal). anyone knows why they are not financing this project? could it be because they joined esa after envisat project was started?

Re:not all members

[Dr. Merkwürdigliebe]

You're right, ESA has 15 European members, but only 13 have contributed to Envisat (the 14th contributor being Canada). Since Portugal joined only last year and Envisat started in the late eighties, it's obvious why they didn't chip in, but I don't know why Ireland didn't. Though not a founding member, they got involved very shortly afterwards and would have been able to participate. Maybe they felt they couldn't contribute in a meaningful way?

Re:not all members

[emir]

i think i have figured out why ireland is not in :) ireland probably doesnt have any aerospace industry. for example sweden pays for 3,5% of whole project, most of this money goes to saab ericsson aerospace for some parts they are providing, so basicaly by supporting esa's project every european country is supporting its own industry. ireland's industry probably couldnt contribute with any instruments thus ireland choose not to participate....

Re:not all members

[Dr. Merkwürdigliebe]

That's what I kinda suspected as well, thanks. It would probably also be the reason why tiny Luxembourg is not a member, whereas they usually are a founding member in many European projects.

Which one?

[gnovos]

"The Green Eye"

Does that refer to the green of the environment, or the "Green Eyed Monster", aka, Envisat?

In related news...

[fluffhead]

Today the first privately funded "hunter-killer" satellite was launched by the American Petroleum Association.