EarthCARE unwrapped

The EarthCARE satellite carries four instruments for observations of clouds and aerosols with four synergistic sensing methodologies.

The instruments provide key measurements to 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.

The three-axis stabilised satellite platform was designed to accommodate the four instruments, which need to provide accurately collocated views of Earth, as well as unobstructed views for solar calibration of the passive instruments.

The satellite design meets these challenges by employing a fully customised carbon fibre-based platform with the radar, lidar and startrackers (used for determining the satellite’s attitude) positioned as close together as possible, thereby minimising alignment errors.

The satellite is dominated by the large Cloud Profiling Radar antenna, which is 2.5 m across.

The solar panel is made up of five sections and covers an area of 21 sq m. Its long trailing configuration behind the platform makes an overall satellite length of over 17 m and, at the satellite’s low orbital altitude, helps minimise atmospheric drag.