BackForward Satellite: AWS PFM 

Satellite details
Acronym AWS PFM
Full name Arctic Weather Satellite Proto-Flight Model
WIGOS Station Identifier ---
Satellite Description
  • Prototype satellite to improve coverage over the polar regions.
  • Main mission: all-weather temperature and humidity profiles.
  • 3-axis stabilised.
  • Exact orbital parameters to be determined.
Mass at launch 120 kg Dry mass 120 kg
Power 120 W
Data access link no link provided
Data access information
  • Direct Data Broadcast L-Band downlink transmits realtime measurements for nowcasting
  • Data also disseminated to end users using EUMETSAT's EUMETCAST system with some delay.
Orbit Sunsynchronous orbit Altitude 600 km
ECT TBD

 

Space agency ESA
Status Planned
Details on Status
(as available)
  • Contract signed to build prototype satellite
Launch Jun 2024 EOL ≥2029
Last update: 2024-01-22
Associated satellite programme and related satellites

Note: red tag: no longer operational , green tag: operational , blue tag : future

Satellite Payload

All known Instruments flying on AWS PFM

Acronym Full name
EPS Sterna Radiometer EPS Sterna Radiometer
Show instrument status and calibration
Satellite frequencies for Earth Observation, data transfer and platform communications and control
Earth observation MW frequencies
Service Sensing mode Frequency (GHz) Bandwidth (MHz) Polarisation Comments
AWS passive 50 GHz - 57.66 GHz - QV 8 temperature sounding channels in O2 band
AWS passive 89 GHz 400 MHz QV Window channel
AWS passive 165.5 GHz 280 MHz QV Weak water vapour channel
AWS passive 175 GHz - 191.31 GHz - QV 5 water vapour channels
AWS passive 317 GHz - 333.15 GHz - QV 4 high freq channels