France's National Center for Space Studies presented its new climate change observation mission in Paris on Thursday, designed in collaboration with Israel Space Agency. The Venus vegetation and environment monitoring micro-satellite was assembled by Israel Aerospace Industries in collaboration with the French space agency. Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems produced the satellite's innovative electric propulsion system, and defense electronics contractor Elbit Systems provided advanced high-resolution cameras that will enable the satellite to better monitor the earth's vegetation and any changes on the ground. Venus weighs 265 kilograms (585 pounds) and can reach an altitude of 720 kilometers (447 miles) within two days. The Venus mission aims to observe 110 scientific sites on five continents every two days, a "unique" and "world-first" frequency, according to Venus project leader Pierric Ferrier. The mission will closely monitor the impact of human activity on vegetation as well as on water and carbon influxes. In all, more than 40 countries are home to observed sites, with 24% of the selected observed sites in the United States. French National Center for Space Studies President Jean-Yves Le Gall hailed the French-Israel collaboration on the project. "Venus is a Franco-Israeli satellite with a scientific as well as a technological goal," he said. "Scientific, because it will enable us to observe vegetation with a two-day frequency and a high precision, and this within a specific environment in the context of the fight against climate change. It is definitely a satellite at the service of the fight against climate change. "And technological, because for the first time we are going to use a plasmic propulsion designed by Israel and it will enable us to test this propulsion while on orbit. It is a great example of successful space collaboration between France and Israel." Ferrier said that "there is an enthusiasm because it is a world premiere to have a satellite with those characteristics which will fly over these sites every two days. This is what is important, every two days. Currently, with the Sentinelle system, the frequency is five days with two satellites. It is a world first to have an embarked captor on orbit, which will take pictures every two days. This is very, very important for what we want to demonstrate. "The scientific mission is the observation of Earth, revisiting every two days, with a high resolution and large spectral richness captor, which is unique today. The goal is to shape the influence of environmental factors, of human activities and of global warming on continental surfaces." The Venus satellite will be launched Aug. 1 in French Guyana, with its mission set to last for three and a half years.
