Abstract
HydroGNSS (Hydrology using Global Navigation Satellite System reflections) has been selected as the second European Space Agency (ESA) Scout earth observation mission to demonstrate the capability of small satellites to deliver science. This article summarizes the case for HydroGNSS as developed during its system consolidation study. HydroGNSS is a high-value dual small satellite mission, which will prove new concepts and offer timely climate observations that supplement and complement the existing observations and are high in ESAs earth observation scientific priorities. The mission delivers the observations of four hydrological essential climate variables as defined by the global climate observing system using the new technique of GNSS reflectometry. These will cover the world's land mass to 25 km resolution, with a 15-day revisit. The variables are soil moisture, inundation or wetlands, freeze/thaw state, and above-ground biomass.
Highlights
HydroGNSSCOMPLEMENTING ESA’s series of Earth Explorer research missions, Scout missions are a new element in ESA's Earth Observation FutureEO Programme
HydroGNSS has been selected as the second Scout small satellite mission, and is planned to be developed and launched before the end of 2024
It is planned that Level 2 products for ocean wind speed and ice extent will be made available from HydroGNSS based on measurements and algorithms validated on TDS-1, but remain
Summary
COMPLEMENTING ESA’s series of Earth Explorer research missions, Scout missions are a new element in ESA's Earth Observation FutureEO Programme. The intention is to demonstrate the capability of small satellites to deliver value-added science, and implement a Scout mission, from kick-off to launch, within three years, and for a maximum of €30 million, covering the development of the space and ground segment, launch and in-orbit commissioning. HydroGNSS has been selected as the second Scout small satellite mission, and is planned to be developed and launched before the end of 2024. HydroGNSS was supported as one of four candidate concepts to undergo a consolidation study, and outputs of this study are summarized in this paper. The study assumed two HydroGNSS satellites, though Scout funding is initially available for just a single satellite. HydroGNSS uses GNSS Reflectometry to target four hydrological Essential Climate Variables (ECVs): Soil
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