ICESat-2 Mission Overview

Launched on September 15, 2018, from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, NASA's Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) carries a revolutionary photon-counting laser altimeter that allows scientists to measure the elevation of ice sheets, glaciers, sea ice, tree canopy height, and ocean height - all in unprecedented 3-D detail.

ICESat-2 helps scientists investigate why, and how much, our Earth is changing in a warming climate. Using its Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS), the satellite fires 10,000 laser pulses per second, providing critical data for understanding global environmental changes.

Key Measurements

The mission provides essential data for monitoring Earth's cryosphere, vegetation, and oceans with unprecedented precision and coverage.

Spacecraft in Control

The ICESat-2 spacecraft provides power and orbit control for ATLAS, the mission's height-measuring instrument. The spacecraft supplies propulsion, navigation, attitude control, thermal control, data storage and handling, ground communication, and more.

When a goal of an Earth-observing satellite mission is to measure the elevation of ice sheets to within an inch or so, it's critical to know where in space the satellite is positioned. ICESat-2 features a novel way of situating itself in space.

Mission Video

ATLAS Instrument

Precise Positioning

The spacecraft has a GPS aboard and very specific center-of-gravity knowledge, which allow the satellite to calculate its position in space to within 16 feet. Scientists have conducted ground calibration studies and analysis to refine the positioning even further.

Knowing the spacecraft's altitude is key, since the instrument measures the distance from itself to the ground. If ATLAS is higher or lower than expected, the Earth elevation measurements will be off. ICESat-2's design enables scientists to precisely calculate its location in space and where its telescope is pointing.

Ready for Launch

Northrop Grumman in Gilbert, Arizona built and tested the ICESat-2 spacecraft, while the ATLAS instrument was built and tested at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The instrument was shipped to Arizona to be integrated with the spacecraft.

The assembled and tested ICESat-2 satellite launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on September 15, 2018, aboard United Launch Alliance's Delta II rocket. It was the last Delta II rocket, which has launched more than 50 NASA science missions over its storied career.