ROADMAP study

ROADMAP study
Definition of scenarios and Roadmap for operational oceanography

The objective of the study is to develop the underlying rationale and plan for development of a long-term ocean satellite mission, capable of supporting and sustaining developing operational services. Proposed candidate missions shall rely on a traceable heritage. Finally, out of the candidates, a single concept shall be chosen that has the programmatic rationale with which to justify proposal for implementation as an Earth Watch mission with a 15 year European commitment. This will be accompanied by the roadmap for how the mission will be defined, developed, implemented and operated. The study is realized by a consortium led by CLS, under an European Space Agency contract. The Team consists of a total of eleven companies and institutes from six European countries.

• CLS (France), ALCATEL SPACE (France), NERSC (Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center, Norway), SOS (Satellite Observing Systems, United Kingdom), and STARLAB (Spain) form a core team that organizes and carries out the work for the different tasks and prepares the different reports.
• IFREMER (France), INGV (Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Italy), MERCATOR (France), UKMO (Meteorological Office, United Kingdom), SOC (Southampton Oceanography Center, United Kingdom), and UH (University of Hamburg) will form an expert team that will be in charge of providing scientific inputs, reviewing reports and participating in meetings.

CLS tasks:

CLS is the study coordinator and will participate as manager and expert to several workpackages:

• Project management:

  CLS conducts a standard project management task that will be active all along the study. It includes: project administration, contractual negotiation, contract administration, organisation of meetings, participation to meetings, project, financial and resources control, planning and schedule control, configuration identification and management, preparation of meeting minutes and preparation of deliverables (reports). A www site has been set up by CLS to facilitate the exchange of documents between the co-ordinator, ESA and the partners of the study.

• WP 4300: Characterization of candidate mission scenarios

  The objective is to outline different satellites mission concepts for operational oceanography, taking into account the existing planned missions and the most significant parameters.

• WP 5400: Payload data system

  The objective of this workpackage is to define and analyze the Payload Data Segment compatible with the two mission concepts. Most of work will be carried out by CLS, but IFREMER will complete it with its experience with CERSAT (altimetry, scatterometry), sea surface temperature processing and MEDSPIRATION project.

• WP6200: Higher data processing Issues

  The objective of this work package is to analyze the Higher Level Data Processing Issues with respect to the user requirements and the generation and distribution of higher level products.