CALIPSO, a joint endeavour by NASA (USA) and CNES (France), is an environmental satellite with a full name, Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations. Launched atop a Delta II rocket on April 28, 2006, alongside CloudSat, it's designed to continuously monitor aerosols and clouds. CALIPSO operates as part of the "C-Train," sharing an orbit with the "A-Train."
The satellite boasts three vital instruments:
Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP)
Wide Field Camera (WFC)
Imaging Infrared Radiometer (IIR)
CALIPSO showcased its reliability by transitioning to its redundant laser in February 2009 as planned. The primary laser met its mission goal of three successful years, with the backup laser exceeding expectations. The mission's success led to CALIPSO's extended mission status in June 2009.
