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SCISAT in numbers - Infographic

Infographic showing SCISAT in numbers.
Description

Infographic showing statistics on SCISAT, a small Canadian satellite that monitors ozone in the stratosphere and helps scientists improve their understanding of ozone depletion. (Credit: Canadian Space Agency)

Text version

This infographic shows numbers on SCISAT, a small Canadian satellite that monitors ozone in the stratosphere and helps scientists improve their understanding of ozone depletion, with a special emphasis on the changes occurring over Canada and in the Arctic.

 

Here are the numbers and the explanations:

  • Launch in 2003. The satellite was launched on August 12, 2003.
  • 74° inclination. In order to collect data over a large part of the Canadian Arctic, SCISAT orbits Earth at an angle of 74° in relation to the equator.
  • 2 instruments. Equipped with two optical instruments, SCISAT measures the distribution of gas species in Earth's atmosphere.
  • 34 publications per year. SCISAT data is found in 34 scientific journal articles per year on average.
  • 450 institutions. About 450 institutions worldwide have been involved in publications related to SCISAT.
  • 70 trace gases. SCISAT measures more gases than any other space-based instrument in the world.
  • 15 orbits per day. SCISAT completes an orbit every 95 minutes or so, meaning that it circles Earth about 15 times per day.
  • Altitude of 650 km. SCISAT orbits Earth at an altitude of 650 km.

6316 solar occultations per year on average. SCISAT experiences many sunrises and sunsets in a day. At those times, it takes various measurements using the Sun’s rays passing through Earth's atmosphere. This technique is called solar occultation.

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File size: 0.75 MB
Image size: 2400 x 1800 pixels
Resolution: 96 dpi


Image date: August 9, 2023

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