MERLIN
MERLIN [CNES]
MERLIN (Methane Remote Sensing Lidar Mission) is a joint CNES and DLR satellite mission dedicated to the measurements of the green house gas Methane (CH4). It is planned to launch the satellite in the time frame of 2016 with at least 3 years of operation in space. Germany will contribute by providing the instrument payload, a Methane Integrated Path Differential Absorption (IPDA) LIDAR. France will be the mission prime and will contribute by the enhanced version of its space-proven satellite platform Myriade and will operate the satellite. Both countries will establish a joint data processing chain to provide the science community with the mission data.
It is baselined to be launched from the Guiana Space Center in a multiple launch by a Soyuz Fregat or Vega rocket in 2016.
| Nation: | Germany, France |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Earth sciences |
| Operator: | DLR, CNES |
| Contractors: | DLR, CNES |
| Equipment: | IPDA LIDAR |
| Configuration: | Myriade |
| Propulsion: | 4 1-N-Thrusters; Hydrazine blowdown system |
| Power: | Deployable solar array, batteries |
| Lifetime: | 3 years |
| Mass: | ~250 kg |
| Orbit: | SSO |
| Satellite | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MERLIN | 2016 | Ko | Soyuz Fregat or Vega | with ? |
References:
- DLR fact sheet: MERLIN
