Contract signed to build Arctic weather satellite

This prototype is the forerunner of a possible constellation of satellites that might provide an virtually fixed stream of temperature and humidity information from each location on Earth – permitting, for the primary time, for very short-range climate forecasting, or ‘nowcasting’, within the Arctic. Meteorologists can even use the mission to enhance climate forecasts all over the world.

Correct climate forecasts are a necessary a part of on a regular basis life, used from merely deciding what garments to put on to planning crop harvesting, ship routing and managing renewable power sources.

At present, satellites, each these in geostationary orbit and in polar orbit, present a wealth of data that meteorologists use routinely to forecast the climate, nonetheless, the monitoring of the Arctic stays inadequate.

Europe’s Meteosat geostationary satellites positioned 36 000 km above the equator return photos each 15 minutes over the complete Earth and each 5 minutes over Europe, they haven’t any visibility of upper latitudes, nearer to the poles, and so can’t be used for Arctic climate forecasting.

Whereas the MetOp satellites do return information over the poles as they a circle Earth from pole to pole in a decrease orbit, they want as much as 24 hours to attain international protection.

By offering international measurements of atmospheric temperature and humidity with frequent revisit instances, the polar-orbiting Arctic Climate Satellite tv for pc mission will complement MetOp and its counterpart US NOAA Joint Polar Satellite tv for pc System. This can enhance climate forecasts particularly within the Arctic, which has to date been missing the info wanted for short-term forecasts.

The Arctic Climate Satellite tv for pc mission is foreseen as an eventual constellation – however as a primary step, ESA has now put in place a contract to develop, construct, launch and function a prototype satellite tv for pc. This additionally embraces the New Area method by proving new ideas in an economical and well timed method.

The contract, which is price over €32 million, was signed in the present day by Toni Tolker-Nielsen, ESA’s Appearing Director of Earth Statement Programmes and Benoit Mathieu, Managing Director of OHB Sweden. Mr Tolker-Nielsen mentioned, “The Arctic Climate Satellite tv for pc growth contract demonstrates ESA’s continued dedication to the institution of novel, state-of-the-art meteorological satellite tv for pc programs, whereas additionally showcasing what might be achieved with an economical, New Area method.”

The satellite tv for pc will carry a 19-channel cross-track scanning microwave radiometer, offering high-resolution humidity and temperature soundings of the environment in all climate circumstances.

OHB Sweden leads the economic consortium, which incorporates Omnisys Sweden because the prime contractor for the microwave radiometer and Thales Alenia Area as prime contractor for the bottom section. The commercial staff contains 31 corporations, together with 14 small and medium-sized enterprises from 12 ESA Member States.

Benoit Mathieu added, “That is the third mission counting on our Innosat platform. With this contract, OHB Sweden’s Innosat platform proves its New Area character appropriate for an economical and dependable Arctic Climate Satellite tv for pc constellation and past.”

Wanting ahead, ESA would develop the envisaged constellation in cooperation with EUMETSAT, alongside the identical settlement that led to the implementation of the generations of Meteosat and MetOp satellites.

Phil Evans, Director Normal of EUMETSAT, mentioned, “We welcome in the present day’s signature, as EUMETSAT is dedicated to working with ESA to judge the Arctic Climate Satellite tv for pc in-orbit information. In complement to the observations from our Second Technology of MetOp satellites, we’d count on any future Arctic Climate Satellite tv for pc system to have a constructive influence on meteorological functions, from regional and international numerical climate prediction to nowcasting within the Arctic area, the place it’ll deliver necessary and lacking observations.

“EUMETSAT and ESA can even work collectively in assessing the technical feasibility and value of a future operational constellation of such Arctic Climate Satellites which, if agreed by our Member States, can be applied by EUMETSAT.”