Canadian MOPITT Instrument to Launch on Terra Satellite
Saint-Hubert, Quebec, December 14, 1999 — The Canadian Space Agency’s (CSA) Measurements of Pollution in
The Troposphere (MOPITT) instrument will be launched on NASA’s Terra satellite aboard an Atlas IIAS rocket from
Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, on December 16, 1999, at approximately 10:30 PST (1:30 p.m. EST).
There is an alternate launch date of December 17 if the launch does not proceed on December 16.
The CSA provided MOPITT to NASA’s Terra satellite mission and will contribute to on-orbit mission operations and
data analysis. MOPITT is an infrared gas-correlation instrument that will contribute to Terra’s mission of
observing the Earth from the unique vantage point of space by taking global measurements of carbon monoxide and
methane in the troposphere. The MOPITT Principal Investigator is Prof. James Drummond of the University of
Toronto and COM DEV International of Cambridge, Ontario, built the MOPITT instrument, both under contract to the
Canadian Space Agency.
A backgrounder on the MOPITT instrument can be accessed at:
http://www.science.sp-agency.ca/J1-MOPITT(Eng).htm
B-rolls with animation of the operation of the Canadian MOPITT
instrument, and taped comments by Dr. Drummond are also available by contacting the number below.
Updates on the launch will be posted on the Canadian Space Agency Web site at http://www.space.gc.ca.
NASA TELEVISION COVERAGE
NASA Television will carry the prelaunch news conference starting at 1 p.m. PST on Wednesday, December 15. On
launch day, December 16, NASA TV coverage of the countdown will begin at 8:30 a.m. PST and continue through
spacecraft separation, which occurs at 13 minutes 39 seconds into flight.
NASA Television is carried on GE-2, transponder 9C located at 85 degrees West longitude. Audio only will be
available on the “V” circuits, which may be reached by dialing (407) 867-1220, 1240, 1260, 7135, 4003,
4920.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Canadian Space Agency
Stephane Corbin
Media Relations Manager
(450) 926-4350
(514) 943-6808 (cell.)
Email: stephane.corbin@space.gc.ca
