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.