Instruments
ERS-1 carried an array of earth-observation instruments that gathered information about the Earth (land, water, ice and atmosphere) using a variety of measurement principles. These included:
- RA (Radar Altimeter) is a single frequency nadir-pointing radar altimeter operating in the Ku band.
- ATSR-1 (Along-Track Scanning Radiometer) is a 4 channel infrared radiometer and microwave sounder for measuring temperatures at the sea-surface and the top of clouds.
- SAR (synthetic aperture radar) operating in C band can detect changes in surface heights with sub-millimeter precision.
- Wind Scatterometer used to calculate information on wind speed and direction.
- MWR is a Microwave Radiometer used in measuring atmospheric water, as well as providing a correction for the atmospheric water for the altimeter.
To accurately determine its orbit, the satellite included the PRARE (Precision Range and Range-Rate Equipment) and a Laser Retroreflector. The PRARE was non-operational since launch. The Retroreflector was used for calibrating the Radar Altimeter to within 10 cm.
Read more about this topic: European Remote-Sensing Satellite
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