ALTIKA3: a high-resolution ocean topography mission

The paper presents the current status of the AltiKa3 mission and performance analysis. It mainly focuses on satellite and instrumental studies as phase B of the payload is currently going on. Apart from the combined altimeter and radiometer, this payload also consists of a DORIS plus LRA (Laser Retroreflector Array) orbitography system that will ensure a high level of accuracy in terms of orbitography and that will ease the connection of historical altimetry series within a common well surveyed geodetic reference frame. Feasibility of accommodating such a payload aboard a microsatellite platform has been shown and will be shortly introduced in the paper.