Wind Measurement
The European Space Agency's (ESA) Aeolus satellite, launched on August 22, 2018, marked a significant milestone in Earth observation and atmospheric sciences. Aeolus was the first satellite to measure global wind profiles directly from space using laser technology, a pioneering mission that aimed to provide crucial data for weather forecasting and climate research.
After three years in orbit, Aeolus has exceeded its design lifetime and is still going strong. Equipped with the first ever Doppler Wind lidar, a laser radar, in space, the satellite's first emission of ultraviolet pulses enabled it to take a 0km-25km slice of the atmosphere and create a wind-map at all latitudes with a 250m resolution. This high-resolution data has been invaluable, surpassing the volume of data produced by all existing ground-based measuring systems.
The Doppler Wind lidar measurements are now used in daily weather forecasting, playing a crucial role in activities such as farming, fishing, construction, and air transport. Aeolus has consistently delivered high-quality data and gone beyond its original mission, taking over the role of providing wind measurements that were previously taken by planes before the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, the mission was not without its challenges. The first laser on Aeolus experienced energy loss, threatening data quality. A backup laser was successfully switched over to, allowing the satellite to continue operations. Additionally, a prototype of the lidar instrument's laser strength was initially too strong, destroying the laser's optics at a rate of 50% in under six hours. These issues were eventually overcome, leading to new technology that will support future missions.
On July 28, 20225, ESA’s Aeolus wind mission reentered Earth's atmosphere and burned up in a controlled, assisted reentry — the first maneuver of its kind for the agency. This marked the mission's official end after successfully providing valuable wind data since its launch. The Aeolus mission has been assessed to generate substantial value for weather forecasting and climate studies across Europe and globally.
The success of Aeolus paves the way for a possible future fleet of Doppler wind Lidar satellites in space. Philippe Pham, Airbus' Head of Earth Observation & Science, stated that Aeolus' data quality and reliability demonstrate its success. This mission, involving significant industrial participation including the UK space sector, has been a significant step for ESA in Earth observation and atmospheric sciences.
- The exceptional data collected by the Doppler Wind lidar on board the Aeolus satellite, a pioneer in environmental-science and space-and-astronomy, is currently being utilized in daily weather forecasting, greatly impacting activities such as farming, fishing, construction, and air transport, thus bridging the gap left by planes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The European Space Agency's (ESA) Aeolus mission, a prominent achievement in science and technology, has generated substantial value for weather forecasting and climate studies, paving the way for a possible future fleet of Doppler wind Lidar satellites in space, heralding a new era in Earth observation and atmospheric sciences.
