On 10-11 October 2023, the Earth observation science community gathered in Bucharest, Romania, to discuss the merits of four competing candidate research missions:  Cairt, Nitrosat, Seastar, and Wivern.  These candidate satellite missions are vying to be selected for the next stage of preparation en-route to becoming ESA’s eleventh Earth Explorer mission. During the two days of the User Consultation Meeting, the science and technical teams presented the Earth science behind each of the candidate missions and how this is unlocked by each respective mission concept.

Earth Explorers are pioneering research missions that employ new observing techniques that can lead to new scientific findings about planet Earth. Advancing science and technology, they address questions that have direct bearings on societal issues such as the availability of food, water, energy and resources, public health, weather and climate change.

Access all the Earth Explorer 11 User Consultation Meeting streaming replays