Megha-Tropiques Mission

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the French National Space Centre (CNES) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to proceed with the development and implementation of the joint atmospheric satellite mission Megha-Tropiques. ISRO and CNES had signed a statement of intent for the mission in 1999. In 2001 the two agencies signed the first MoU to jointly carry out a detailed design of the mission. The new MoU outlines arrangements for the development of the satellite, its launch, operations in orbit and utilisation of scientific data. The satellite is meant to investigate the contribution to climate dynamics of the water cycle in the tropical atmosphere. It will carry a multi-frequency microwave scanning radiometer (MADRAS) to be developed jointly by ISRO and CNES, as well as a multi-channel microwave instrument (SAPHIR) and a multi-channel instrument (SCARAB) to be developed by CNES. The satellite will be built by ISRO and is scheduled for launch in 2008-09.