Aeolus-2 Value of Information

Over the last four years, ESA’s Aeolus mission has been delivering unique profiles of Earth’s winds from space, improving operational weather forecasts, climate models and more – all showing that its novel laser technology is advancing science and being used for important practical applications. Adding to the list of Aeolus’ successes, a recent report highlights that the mission has also brought economics benefits to Europe to the tune of €3.5 billion and that a follow-on Aeolus-2 mission could benefit the European economy by €7.1 billion, so more than double that of the current Aeolus.

Aeolus-2 is included in the Earth Observation Proposal at ESA’s upcoming Council at Ministerial Level.  It would be a prime example of an Earth Explorer research mission providing sound heritage to develop an operational mission – a mission that delivers systematic data for environmental or weather services. In this case, the development of a new wind lidar system will be carried out in cooperation with European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, Eumetsat.