The German CHAMP (Challenging Minisatellite Payload) satellite (launched on July 15, 2000) is a geoscience mission aiming for the determination of Earth's gravity and magnetic field and for GPS-based atmospheric sounding. The atmospheric profiling experiment onboard CHAMP is considered as an important step to improve the GPS radio occultation technique receiver technique. CHAMP carries the latest generation of JPL's GPS flight receiver - the BlackJack - and has a more directional occultation antenna compared to the GPS/MET 'proof of concept' experiment for GPS radio occultation measurements. First occultation measurements by CHAMP were performed in February 2001. An overview of the occultation data processing at GFZ is given. Initial results of the GPS occultation experiment are presented.

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Wickert, J.; Reigber, C.; Beyerle, G.; König, R.; Marquardt, C.; Schmidt, T.; Meehan, T.; Grunwaldt, L.; Galas, R. (2001): Initial Results of CHAMP Radio Occultation Experiment. AGU Spring Meeting, A31C-08.