BackForward Satellite Programme: Chinese-French Oceanography Satellite 

Programme details
Programme description
  • Programme addressing ocean observation.
  • Joint French-China programme: CNSA responsible of platform, launch and scatterometer; CNES of the altimeter. Shared mission operations.
  • The platform is actively stabilised over 3 axes.
  • The design life time is 4 to 5 years.
  • The satellite exploits a sunsynchronous orbit around 7:00.
  • See detailed description at http://smsc.cnes.fr/CFOSAT/index.htm.
Data circulation
  • Data stored onboard and transmitted to Kiruna.
  • Real-time broadcast to a number of CNSA and CNES stations.
  • Data processed at CNES mission centres in Toulouse and Brest and at a CNSA mission centre in Beijing.
Agencies NSOAS , CNES
Programme lifetime 2018 - 2024
Associated satellites and instruments

Note: red tag => no longer operational , green tag => operational , blue tag => planned