VCL (ESSP 1)
VCL (Orbital) [OSC] |
VCL (Vegetation Canopy Lidar) seeks to provide the first global inventory of the vertical structure of forests across Earth using a multibeam laser-ranging device.The mission will enable direct measurement of tree heights, forest canopy structure, and derived parameters such as global biomass with at least ten times better accuracy than existing assessments.
VCL has been delayed and finally cancelled due to problems with the science payload. The completed bus will be reused for the GLORY satellite. The Athena-1 launch vehicle was used for the Kodiak Star mission.
| Nation: | USA |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Earth Observation, Lidar |
| Operator: | NASA |
| Contractors: | Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC) |
| Equipment: | MBLA (Multi-Beam Laser Altimeter) |
| Configuration: | LEOStar |
| Propulsion: | |
| Power: | |
| Lifetime: | |
| Mass: | 420 kg (250 kg dry) |
| Orbit: | 400 km, 67° |
| Satellite | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VCL (ESSP 1) |
cancelled | Kd LP-1 |
|
-> GLORY |
Further ESSP missions:
- VCL (ESSP 1) - cancelled
- GRACE (ESSP 2)
- CALIPSO (ESSP 3)
- Cloudsat (ESSP 4)
- OCO (ESSP 5)
- Aquarius (ESSP 6)
- Hydros (ESSP 7) - cancelled