The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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Once in orbit, ESA’s EarthCARE satellite deploys its solar wing, which is 11 metres long and trails at the back of the satellite. The cloud profiling radar antenna, which is at the front of the satellite, then opens.
The satellite carries a suite of four instruments to answer some critical 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.
While scientists know that clouds and aerosols play extremely important roles in both cooling and warming our atmosphere, there remains uncertainty when it comes to accounting for the exact influence they have on Earth’s energy balance and, given the ongoing climate crisis, if they will exert an overall cooling or warming effect in the future. Data from EarthCARE will help paint a clearer picture.
EarthCARE is the result of a cooperation between ESA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA, who contributed the satellite’s cloud profiling radar instrument.