CloudSat launched in April 2006 as part of a NASA-led mission to develop global cloud profiles to better understand how water and ice content determine cloud properties, precipitation processes, and climate impacts.
CloudSat continued providing measurements for nearly 18 years largely due to operational support from the BAE Systems team that modified spacecraft operations to address battery and reaction wheel failures.
BAE Systems designed and built the CloudSat spacecraft bus.
BAE Systems designed and built the spacecraft bus for the CloudSat mission.
CloudSat launched in April 2006 as part of a NASA-led mission to develop global cloud profiles.
CloudSat was originally planned for a 22-month mission lifetime but continued providing measurements for nearly 18 years.
CALIPSO launched together with the CloudSat satellite on 2006-04-28.
CALIPSO's measurements were in close association with CloudSat's cloud radar observations.
CALIPSO separated from CloudSat by just a few dozen seconds during operation.