Some of the ESA EarthCARE team members in front of EarthCARE in the Large Space Simulator at the ESTEC Test Centre in the Netherlands. The satellite spent 12 months undergoing numerous rigorous tests to ensure that it will withstand the space environment once it is in orbit. The mission 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.