EARTH SCIENCE · ACTIVE

Pelagos-4

Ocean, cryosphere and coastal-change observatory.

ACTIVECURRENT STATUS

SUN-SYNCHRONOUS ORBITPRIMARY TARGET

LAUNCHED 11 MAY 2022MISSION DATE

Pelagos-4 provides precise observations of sea-surface height, wave state, coastal change and polar ice. Its measurements support climate research, marine forecasting and emergency planning across Ainare and the Southern Ocean.

The observatory flies a 10-day reference ground track and cross-calibrates measurements against coastal gauges, profiling floats and other national Earth-observation missions.

LATEST OPERATIONAL UPDATE

Release P4-L3.2 adds the validated Southern Ocean boundary-current record through May 2026.

MISSION PARAMETERS

Flight facts

Values are the current public mission baseline or the final recorded result.

01 · Launch11 MAY 2022

Launch

Asteria-M

02 · Orbit1,336 km

Orbit

66.0° inclination

03 · Repeat10 d

Repeat

Reference ground track

04 · Design life7 yr

Design life

Consumables support 10 years

05 · Primary instrumentKu/C altimeter

Primary instrument

Dual-frequency

06 · Data latency<3 h

Data latency

Operational products

MISSION OBJECTIVES

Defined outcomes

Mission-level objectives are controlled through the approved program baseline.

01OBJECTIVE

Maintain a climate-quality record of global and regional sea-surface height.

Verification is recorded in mission operations and closeout documentation.

02OBJECTIVE

Measure significant wave height and wind speed for operational marine services.

Verification is recorded in mission operations and closeout documentation.

03OBJECTIVE

Resolve coastal circulation and seasonal boundary-current movement south of Ainare.

Verification is recorded in mission operations and closeout documentation.

04OBJECTIVE

Provide open calibrated products with traceable uncertainty documentation.

Verification is recorded in mission operations and closeout documentation.

All missions Science data