EarthCARE: the White Dragon

ESA's EarthCARE mission is set to provide unprecedented data on clouds and aerosols. The EarthCARE satellite is also known as the White Dragon.

EarthCARE is a joint venture between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

According to JAXA tradition, satellites are given nicknames in addition to official names and formal abbreviations. The nickname chosen for EarthCARE is ‘White Dragon,’ or Hakuryu in Japanese, and effectively embodies the characteristic of the satellite's appearance, with its white body and solar panel resembling a long tail.

In Japanese mythology, dragons are ancient and divine creatures that control water and fly in the sky: an appropriate metaphor for a mission that will study clouds and aerosols, which are primarily made of water.

Additionally, the launch year of EarthCARE (2024) coincides with the Year of the Dragon in the Japanese zodiac, signifying good fortune.