Airbus secures next-generation Earth observation contract
Airbus Defence and Space (EU:AIR) has been awarded a contract by the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop and manufacture the Aeolus-2 wind observation satellite.
The agreement was signed during a ceremony at ESA’s UK centre, ECSAT, in Harwell, marking the start of the follow-on mission to the original Aeolus satellite, which Airbus built and successfully launched in 2018.
The first Aeolus mission provided high-resolution vertical wind measurements from space, helping improve numerical weather forecasting by around 4% before its operations concluded in 2023.
Aeolus-2 to enhance global weather forecasting
The new satellite will carry an advanced Doppler wind lidar equipped with ultraviolet lasers capable of measuring atmospheric winds from ground level up to an altitude of 30 kilometres.
Taking readings every 0.01 seconds, the instrument will survey the entire planet every seven days. In addition to wind observations, Aeolus-2 will feature a new detector designed to monitor atmospheric aerosols.
Simonetta Cheli, ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programmes, said, “Aeolus exceeded expectations and demonstrated the transformative impact that space-based wind observations can have on weather forecasting. Aeolus-2 represents the natural evolution of that achievement – from pioneering research to an operational service that will benefit citizens and businesses worldwide.”
UK to play a leading role in the mission
UK Space Minister Liz Lloyd said Airbus Defence and Space’s UK operations will have a central role in delivering the programme.
“Aeolus-2 will deliver real benefits for people across the UK, from more accurate weather forecasts that protect lives and communities, to the highly skilled jobs that come from being a key partner in Europe’s most ambitious space science programmes,” Lloyd stated.
Mission designed for operational forecasting
The satellite will determine wind speed and direction by analysing the Doppler shift of laser light reflected from atmospheric particles such as dust, ice crystals and water droplets.
Operating from an altitude of approximately 450 kilometres, Aeolus-2 will orbit Earth around 15 times each day and deliver weather data to users within 120 minutes of the earliest measurement collected during each orbit.
ESA is developing the mission in partnership with EUMETSAT, with organisations including the UK Met Office and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts among the expected users.
The satellite has an operational design life of 5.5 years.
Leave a Reply