ERS-1

The first European Remote-Sensing Satellite (ERS-1) was launched in July 1991 and it was the most advanced European satellite for the Earth observation. In particular, this ESA mission provided information of ocean and atmosphere in the microwave spectrum. However, several applications were found also for ice and land. ERS-1 is characterized by a Sun-synchronous near-circular polar orbit, with 98.52° inclination and altitude of 782 -785 km. During the first phases of the mission, ERS-1 had a high-frequency repeat cycle of 3 days, which changed to a 35-day repeating orbit during the mapping phase. ERS-1 mission ended in March 2000; however, since 1995 ERS-2 replaced the satellite on its same nominal track.

ERS-1 (Credit: ESA)

AgencyESA
Launch date1991-07-17
EOL date2000-03-10
Data SourceESA
Data VersionSGDR/REAPER
Mass2384 kg
InstrumentsAMI, ATSR, LRR, PRARE, RA
Dimensions12 m x 12 m x 2.5 m

Orbit elements

ERS-1 (Phase A)
Repeat cycle3 days
Semi major axis7153138 m
Inclination98.516 °
Start of phase1991-08-01
End of phase1991-12-15
Revolutions43
Mean Height785 km
List of cyclesLink
ERS-1 (Phase B)
Repeat cycle3 days
Semi major axis7153138 m
Inclination98.516 °
Start of phase1991-12-15
End of phase1992-03-25
Revolutions43
Mean Height785 km
List of cyclesLink
ERS-1 (Phase C)
Repeat cycle35 days
Semi major axis7159496 m
Eccentricity0.0001042
Inclination98.543 °
Start of phase1992-04-14
End of phase1993-12-20
Revolutions501
Mean Height782 km
List of cyclesLink
ERS-1 (Phase D)
Repeat cycle3 days
Semi major axis7153138 m
Inclination98.516 °
Start of phase1993-12-24
End of phase1994-04-11
Revolutions43
Mean Height785 km
List of cyclesLink
ERS-1 (Phase E)
Repeat cycle168 days
Semi major axis7147191 m
Inclination98.491 °
Start of phase1994-04-11
End of phase1994-09-29
Revolutions2411
Mean Height770 km
List of cyclesLink
ERS-1 (Phase F)
Repeat cycle168 days
Semi major axis7147191 m
Inclination98.491 °
Start of phase1994-09-29
End of phase1995-03-21
Revolutions2411
Mean Height770 km
List of cyclesLink
ERS-1 (Phase G)
Repeat cycle35 days
Semi major axis7159496 m
Eccentricity0.0001042
Inclination98.543 °
Start of phase1995-03-24
End of phase1996-04-28
Revolutions501
Mean Height782 km
List of cyclesLink

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