23 October 2003

UK to build first-ever space wind satellite monitor

The UK will lead the development of the world's first ever satellite to study the Earth's wind patterns from space, it has been announced today.

The European Space Agency (ESA) today awarded the prime contract to EADS Astrium (UK), to build the Aeolus satellite, which is due to be launched on a three-year mission in 2007. The cost of the mission is around 300 million euros over eight years, and the UK share of ESA's Earth Observation Envelope Programme supporting Aeolus is 57.5 million euros.

It is hoped that the satellite will further our knowledge of the Earth's atmosphere and weather systems by being the first to provide detailed global surveillance of winds from space. At present, there are large areas where wind profiles are not regularly observed - a major deficiency in the Global Observing System.

Aeolus data could lead to major improvements in forecasters' predictions of extreme weather conditions, including major storms.

Colin Hicks, Director General of the British National Space Centre, said that the contract award was in recognition of the "world-class expertise we possess in building satellites in this country".

Colin Paynter, Managing Director of EADS Astrium (UK), based in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, said: "We have been working on the Aeolus programme for many years with colleagues from ESA, NERC and BNSC and we must thank them for their confidence in our ability to manage such a complex mission."

EADS Astrium (France) will build the on board instrument ALADIN - Atmospheric Laser Doppler Instrument, and EADS Astrium (Germany) will procure platform electrical subsystems as subcontractors to their UK sister company.

Aeolus will be placed in a Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 400km, enabling it to collect information from anywhere on the planet. The ALADIN Lidar (laser detection and radar) instrument will create a wind profile showing the relative strength and direction of winds at different altitudes.

Martin Jones, Head of Space Programmes at the Met Office, said the satellite instrument could become "an important new tool for weather forecasters in the UK as well as globally".

(gmcg)