There is an urgent need for more frequent weather data over the Arctic – a region that currently lacks data for accurate short-term forecasts.

Enter ESA’s Arctic Weather Satellite: a prototype mission that will provide precise, short-term weather forecasts for the Arctic region. The satellite is equipped with a 19-channel cross-track scanning microwave radiometer which will provide high-resolution humidity and temperature soundings of the atmosphere in all weather conditions.

The Arctic Weather Satellite is the forerunner of a potential constellation of satellites, called EPS-Sterna, that ESA would build for Eumetsat if this first prototype Arctic Weather Satellite performs well.

The satellite is scheduled to launch in June 2024.