ISRO and CNES Sign
MOU on Megha-Tropiques Mission

ISRO and the French national space agency (CNES), have decided to go ahead with the development and implementation of the joint atmospheric satellite mission, Megha-Tropiques.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to this effect was signed by Mr G Madhavan Nair, Chairman, ISRO and Mr Yannick d’Escatha, President, CNES, on November 12, 2004 at Antariksh Bhavan, the Headquarters of ISRO in Bangalore. MOU outlines the arrangements for the development of the satellite, its launch, its operations in orbit and utilisation of the scientific data acquired from the satellite.

Mr G Madhavan Nair, Chairman, ISRO (left) and Mr Yannick d’Escatha, President, CNES, signing the Megha-Tropiques MOU at Bangalore

Megha-Tropiques (Megha meaning cloud in Sanskrit and Tropiques meaning tropics in French) is meant for investigating the contribution of water cycle in the tropical atmosphere to climate dynamics. The satellite will carry three scientific instruments:
• A Multi-frequency Microwave Scanning Radiometer (MADRAS) to be developed jointly by ISRO and CNES for providing information on rain above the oceans, integrated water vapour content in the atmosphere, liquid water in the clouds and convective rain over land and sea;
• A Multi-channel Microwave Instrument (SAPHIR) to be developed by CNES for providing vertical humidity profile in the atmosphere;
• A Multi-channel Instrument (SCARAB), also to be developed by CNES, for providing data on the earth’s radiation budget.

ISRO has agreed to build the Megha-Tropiques spacecraft, using the Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellite bus. ISRO has also agreed to launch the satellite using its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, into an 867 km high orbit at an inclination of 20 degrees with respect to the equatorial plane. In this orbit, the satellite will be able to collect scientific data covering the tropical regions. ISRO will control the satellite in orbit and also receive, process and distribute the scientific data.

On signing MOU, Mr Madhavan Nair said that Megha-Tropiques is an important mission
that will provide vital atmospheric data over the tropical region for monsoon variability studies.
Mr Yannick d’Escatha said that MOU on Megha-Tropiques demonstrates the importance CNES attaches to the stewardship of our planet and once again confirms the utility of space assets in improving our understanding of the underlying mechanisms. “Megha-Tropiques is a fine and promising mission made possible by our successful long-term partnership with ISRO” he added.

Megha -Tropiques, with its unique combination of scientific payloads and its special orbit, is expected to provide valuable data for climate research. Besides Indian and French scientists, international teams of scientists working on global climate related studies have evinced keen interest in the mission.

ISRO and CNES had signed a Statement of Intent in November 1999 for undertaking the Megha-Tropiques mission. Joint feasibility studies were undertaken to arrive at a baseline configuration of the satellite, the instruments to be flown, the orbit and the possible launchers. In May 2001, the two agencies signed the first MOU to jointly carry out the detailed design of the Megha-Tropiques mission. The present MOU enables the development and implementation of the mission.

The launch of Megha-Tropiques is planned by 2008-2009.