Parasol (satellite)

PARASOL is a French Earth observation satellite. It bears the instrument polder examines the radiation characteristics and the composition of the cloud and microscopic particles.

PARASOL G launched from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou by an Ariane 5 on 18 December 2004. It is positioned in the A-Train formation with several other satellites ( Aqua, CALIPSO, CloudSat and Aura ). These satellites, which will be supplemented in 2008 by the Orbiting Carbon Observatory ( OCO ) of NASA, will allow the merger of several instruments (passive among other radiometers and active lidar and radar systems ) for the first time a comprehensive study of clouds and aerosols.