Some satellite developers are beginning to design spacecraft so that sensitive instruments are located towards the back of the satellite to minimise any risk of impact damage, and the side facing away from earth is shielded to protect it from meteoroids.
He adds that the data gathered during the expedition will also be used to calibrate the instruments on Esa's Cryosat-2 satellite, scheduled to be launched in 2009.
But many commentators expect its instruments to start to fail in the harsh space environment several years before its successor, a satellite called JPSS-1, can be launched to take over observation duties.