ESA’s EarthCARE mission will shed new light on the role that clouds and aerosols play in regulating Earth’s climate. EarthCARE is a joint venture between ESA and JAXA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

According to JAXA tradition, satellites are also given nicknames in addition to their ‘official’ names. The nickname chosen for EarthCARE is ‘Hakuryu’ or ‘White Dragon’ in Japanese.

The name ‘Hakuryu’ embodies the distinctive characteristics 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 govern water and fly in the sky: an appropriate metaphor for a mission that will study clouds and aerosols.

Additionally, the launch year of EarthCARE in 2024 coincides with the Japanese Year of the Dragon, known as ‘tatsu-doshi.’