BackForward Satellite Programme: Geodetic Satellite 

Programme details
Programme description
  • Series of two satellites for ocean altimetry
  • USA programme: US Navy responsible of the programme, with support from NASA and NOAA for operations.
  • Platforms stabilised over 3 axes, either by gravity gradient (GEOSat) or actively (GFO).
  • Design life time: 3 years (GEOSat) and 8 years (GFO).
  • High-inclination drifting orbits.
  • Replacement policy: launches at roughly 3-year intervals.
  • See detailed description at https://directory.eoportal.org/missions/geosat and https://directory.eoportal.org/missions/gfo
Data circulation
  • Onboard stored data downlinked to CONUS (Continental United States) ground sites and transferred for processing to the NavOceano Altimetry Data Fusion Center (ADFC) located at NASA's Stennis Space Center, Mississippi.
  • Ships of the US Navy may receive data in real-time.
Agencies DoD , NASA
Programme lifetime 1985 - 2008
Associated satellites and instruments

Note: red tag => no longer operational , green tag => operational , blue tag => planned