EarthCARE and cables for testing

ESA’s EarthCARE satellite spent 12 months at ESA’s ESTEC Test Centre in the Netherlands being tested to ensure that it will withstand liftoff and the space environment once it is in orbit. The programme included vibration tests that mimic the launch. EarthCARE will answer critical scientific questions related to the role that clouds and aerosols play in reflecting incident solar radiation back out to space and trapping infrared radiation emitted from Earth’s surface.