Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment

The Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment ( SAGE ) is a series of experiments in which, with the aid of satellite remote sensing the chemical composition of Earth's atmosphere is explored. Specifically, SAGE was used, the ozone layer of the Earth and the aerosols in the troposphere through the stratosphere to investigate him. The instrumentation of the experiments utilizes Okkultationsmeßtechniken to the chemical gas concentrations in the atmosphere to be determined. These techniques measure the sunlight at sunrise and sunset when the satellite passes around the earth. These measurement results are compared with the solar radiation that is not attenuated by the atmosphere. In the case of SAGE - test series of the light energy in the UV spectrum and in the visible light spectrum can be measured. Can be determined by calculation algorithms such as the radiation transport equation, then the chemical composition of Earth's atmosphere. The data from the SAGE series were used to determine the content of ozone, trace gases, water vapor and other aerosols to explore in the atmosphere.

Previously there were three SAGE - test series

  • SAGE I flew with the Explorer 60
  • SAGE II was part of the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite ( ERBS )
  • SAGE III flew with the METEOR -3M - 1 satellite on 10 December 2001 with a Zenith -2 from the spaceport Baikonur. After the power supply was exhausted, the satellite presented on 6 March 2006 its operation.

From 2014 SAGE III on ISS succeed its predecessor.

Occultation Explorers program Zenit (rocket family)
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