Editing Envisat (section)

{{Short description|ESA Earth observation satellite (2002–2012)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = Envisat
| image = Envisatmod.jpg
| image_caption = Model of Envisat
| mission_type = [[Earth observation satellite|Earth observation]]
| operator = [[European Space Agency|ESA]]
| website = {{url|http://envisat.esa.int/}}
| COSPAR_ID = 2002-009A
| SATCAT = 27386
| mission_duration = Planned: 5 years <br /> Final: {{time interval|1 March 2002 01:07:59|8 April 2012|show=ymd|sep=,}}
| spacecraft_bus = 
| manufacturer = [[Astrium]]
| launch_mass = {{convert|8211|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
| dimensions = {{convert|26|xx|10|xx|5|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| power = 6,500 watts
| instruments = {{Hlist | ASAR | RA-2 | MWR | MIPAS | [[MERIS]] | [[AATSR]] | [[DORIS (geodesy)|DORIS]] | [[GOMOS]] | [[SCIAMACHY]] }}
| launch_date = {{start-date|1 March 2002, 01:07:59|timezone=yes}}&nbsp;UTC
| launch_rocket = [[Ariane 5|Ariane 5G]] V-145
| launch_site = [[Guiana Space Centre|Kourou]] [[ELA-3]]
| launch_contractor = [[Arianespace]]
| last_contact = {{end-date|8 April 2012}} <br /> (spacecraft failure)
| declared = {{end-date|9 May 2012}}
| disposal_type = None
| decay_date = ~150 years
| orbit_epoch = 15 December 2013, 03:07:00&nbsp;UTC<ref name="n2yo">{{cite web|url=http://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=27386|title=ENVISAT Satellite details 2002-009A NORAD 27386|work=N2YO|date=15 December 2013|access-date=15 December 2013}}</ref>
| orbit_reference = [[geocentric orbit|Geocentric]]
| orbit_regime = [[Polar orbit|Polar]] [[Low Earth orbit|low Earth]]
| orbit_semimajor = {{convert|7144.9|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| orbit_periapsis = {{convert|772|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| orbit_apoapsis = {{convert|774|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| orbit_inclination = 98.40&nbsp;degrees
| orbit_repeat = 35&nbsp;days
| orbit_period = 100.16&nbsp;minutes
| orbit_eccentricity = 0.00042
| apsis = gee
}}

'''Envisat''' ("'''Environmental Satellite'''") is a large [[Earth observation satellite|Earth-observing satellite]] which has been inactive since 2012. It is still in orbit and considered space debris. Operated by the [[European Space Agency]] (ESA), it was the world's largest civilian Earth observation satellite.<ref>[https://earth.esa.int/web/guest/missions/esa-operational-eo-missions/envisat EarthNet Online]</ref>

It was launched on 1 March 2002 aboard an [[Ariane 5]] from the [[Guyana Space Centre]] in [[Kourou]], [[French Guiana]], into a [[Sun synchronous]] [[polar orbit]] at an altitude of 790&nbsp;±&nbsp;10&nbsp;km. It [[orbit]]s the [[Earth]] in about 101 minutes, with a repeat cycle of 35 days. After losing contact with the satellite on 8 April 2012, ESA formally announced the end of Envisat's mission on 9 May 2012.<ref name="missionend">{{cite web | url=http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM1SXSWT1H_index_0.html | title=ESA declares end of mission for Envisat | publisher=ESA | date=9 May 2012}}</ref>

Envisat cost 2.3 billion Euro (including 300 million Euro for 5 years of operations) to develop and launch.<ref>[http://www.esa.int/esaEO/SEMWYN2VQUD_index_0_m.html European Space Agency web-site]</ref> The mission has been replaced by the [[Sentinel (satellite)|Sentinel]] series of satellites. The first of these, [[Sentinel 1]], has taken over the radar duties of Envisat since its launch in 2014.