The launch of Aeolus-ESA's mission to map the Earth's wind in real time is getting tighter, with the satellite taking off on August 21st from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. With the wind in their sails, the mission teams are actively preparing this unique satellite for their upcoming journey.
Aeolus will wear a sophisticated atmospheric laser Doppler instrument, dubbed Aladin. Combining two powerful lasers, a large telescope and extremely sensitive receivers, it is one of the most advanced instruments ever put into orbit.
The spacecraft has already been tested to handle the rigors of space and has recently crossed a 12-day crossing. from the Atlantic of France to the Spaceport of Europe in Kourou, French Guiana.
Takeoff is scheduled for August 21 at 21:20 GMT (23:20 EDT) on a Vega rocket
"Arrival of Eole at Launch site marks the end of 16 years of planning, testing and intensive construction, by generations of engineers and scientists, "says Juan Piñeiro, head of space operations at Aeolus.
"We are now looking forward to the skills and dedication of these countless individuals come to fruition as Eole takes off and we begin to receive evidence that the satellite can fulfill its mission objectives very well. ambitious. "
The complex world of winds
Currently one of the biggest challenges By making accurate weather forecasts, one collects enough information on the wind of the Earth. Aeolus will be the first satellite to measure winds directly from space, at all altitudes, from the Earth's surface to the troposphere and up to 30 km to the Earth's surface. stratosphere, providing information that will significantly improve the quality of weather forecasts.