 The initial proposal for the CryoSat programme was submitted as part of a call for proposals in July 1998 for Earth Explorer missions as part of the European Space Agency 's Living Planet programme . It was selected for further studies in 1999 , and following completion of a feasibility study the mission was authorised . The construction phase began in 2001 , and in 2002 EADS Astrium was awarded a contract to build the spacecraft . A contract was also signed with <unk> , to conduct the launch of the satellite using a Rokot / Briz @-@ KM carrier rocket . 
