Updated 28 February 2002, 15.50

Envisat standing on the launchpad in French Guiana

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			Fact File
	Key Envisat facts
		Cost: £1.4 bn
		Size: A double-decker bus
		Launcher: Ariane 5 rocket
		Orbit: Will circle the earth every 100 minutes
		Lifetime: at least 5 years in orbit
		Purpose: To gather vital data on the Earth and its environment

The European Space Agency, with a little help from Canada, developed the satellite which will travel round the world 14 times a day for the next five years collecting data.

Scientists are hoping that the information it measures will help them understand much more about the planet, and perhaps even help them predict things like the weather and volcanoes erupting.

Powered by the sun

They will also be using it to measure pollution, global warming and how quickly the planet's forests are being cut down.

It is being launched on a huge rocket called Ariane 5 from Kourou spaceport in French Guiana, South America and once in space will be powered by the sun.

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Guide to the international space station

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