Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31587: Killick-1: Measuring Sea Ice from Orbit Using GPS Signals

Killick-1, a Canadian innovation led by Dr. Weimin Huang of Memorial University, represents a major step in using GNSS reflectometry to monitor polar sea ice. This small CubeSat, launched as part of Expedition 70, uses signals from global navigation satellite systems (GNSS)—like GPS—to estimate the thickness and spread of sea ice.

GNSS reflectometry works by analyzing the signals that bounce off Earth’s surface. By studying the reflections from sea ice, researchers can assess changes in ice thickness, which is crucial for understanding climate change and its impact on Arctic ecosystems.

Killick-1 was developed in partnership with C-CORE and exemplifies how small satellites can support large-scale environmental monitoring. The mission adds to global data sets and offers a cost-effective tool for continued climate surveillance from space.

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