ESA selected the HydroGNSS satellite from British company SSTL as its second Scout mission in March. However, its was not until 11 October that the two parties completed negotiations and signed a production contract. The freshly signed contract has an initial value of EUR€24 million (US$27.8 million) with a maximum cap of EUR€30 million (US$34.7 million) and expects delivery of the satellite in three years.
A rendering of the HydroGNSS satellite. Courtesy of SSTL
The HydroGNSS mission will see the planned 55 kg small satellite utilise GNSS reflectometry technology to measure climate variables, particularly focused on hydrological data.
