CRISTAL prepares to sparkle

CRISTAL, which stands for Copernicus Polar Ice and Snow Topography Altimeter, will carry the first dual-frequency radar altimeter along with a microwave radiometer that will measure and monitor sea-ice thickness, overlying snow depth and ice-sheet elevation.

These data will support maritime operations in the polar oceans and contribute to a better understanding of climate processes. CRISTAL will also support applications related to coastal and inland waters, as well as providing observations to monitor ocean topography.

To ensure the long-term monitoring of Earth’s fragile polar regions, the mission comprises two identical satellites. CRISTAL-B will replace CRISTAL-A before the seven-year-plus in-orbit life of the first comes to an end.

Having recently passed its ‘critical design review’, which marks the end of the detailed design phase, CRISTAL-A is now moving into the next development phase, which includes the assembly and testing of the satellite.

ESA’s Kristof Gantois said, “This is a significant milestone in the mission’s development. We are thrilled to say that we have left the drawing board and that we are now proceeding with the assembly of the first CRISTAL satellite.

“It’s like a giant puzzle where all the equipment that has been designed and built over the past years by our various industrial partners is now coming together in Airbus’ facilities in Friedrichshafen in Germany.

“The satellite structure, which forms the skeleton of the satellite, is the first element we required. It now allows the satellite engineers at Airbus’ facilities in Friedrichshafen to install the various components and prepare for the arrival of its main instruments next year.”

The development of the satellite structure was carried out by APCO Technologies in Switzerland and the structure was delivered to Airbus at end of September for the integration phase.

The development of the altimeter, called IRIS, is progressing well at Thales Alenia Space in Toulouse, France, with flight hardware assembly and testing underway. It will be delivered to Airbus in the second half of 2025 to be integrated into the satellite.

The development of second instrument, the microwave radiometer, which is provided by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, is also progressing well. With final system testing about to start, the instrument is on track to be delivered to Airbus next spring.

“Overall, the CRISTAL-A satellite is well on track towards achieving its qualification and acceptance review in June 2027 and to be ready to launch in second half of 2027. We would like to thank everyone involved in the mission for their hard work, which has allowed us to reach this point,” added Kristof Gantois.