BackForward Satellite Programme: Aeolus 

Programme details
Programme description
  • Single satellite programme demonstrating the use of Doppler Wind lidar to improve weather forecasts and scientific understanding of atmospheric dynamics.
  • Earth Explorer core mission in the framework of the ESA Living Planet programme.  ESA responsible of development and operations.
  • The platform is actively stabilised over 3 axes.
  • The design life time of the satellite is 3 years.
  • The satellite exploits the dawn-dusk orbit at 6:00.
  • See detailed description at http://www.esa.int/The_Living_Planet_Programme/Earth_Explorers/ADM-Aeolus.
Data circulation
  • Onboard stored data downlinked to the Svalbard station and Troll (Antarctica) stations.
  • Data processed in the different parts of the Aeolus Payload Data Ground Segment, in Tromsö Norway (L0-L1), ECMWF (L1-L2B), Centre for Earth Observation (ESRIN) in Frascati (Rome) (L1-L2A and the Aeolus Calibration and Monitoring Facility).
Agencies ESA
Programme lifetime 2018 - 2023
Associated satellites and instruments

Note: red tag => no longer operational , green tag => operational , blue tag => planned