On May 28, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched the Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE) mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The launch took place at 6:20 p.m. Eastern, with the spacecraft separating from the upper stage approximately 10 minutes later.
Mission Overview
EarthCARE, an 800-million-euro ($870 million) mission led by the European Space Agency (ESA) in collaboration with the Japanese space agency JAXA, aims to study clouds and aerosols in the Earth’s atmosphere. The 2,200-kilogram spacecraft, now in a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 393 kilometers, is equipped with four scientific instruments, including a cloud profiling radar provided by JAXA.
Scientific Goals and Instruments
The mission’s primary objective is to gather data on the thermal balance of the Earth by observing clouds and aerosols, along with measuring reflected sunlight and radiated heat. Dirk Bernaerts, ESA’s EarthCARE project manager, emphasized the mission’s unique capability to observe these elements simultaneously and at the same location.
Development and Challenges
The development of EarthCARE spanned nearly two decades and faced several challenges, including technical issues with its instruments and delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. These issues contributed to a 30% increase in the project’s cost. Maximilian Sauer, EarthCARE project manager at Airbus, highlighted the importance of stringent project management and coordination among various agencies and companies involved.
Launch Vehicle Changes
Originally, EarthCARE was scheduled to launch on a Soyuz rocket. However, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, ESA lost access to this vehicle. The mission was subsequently moved to Europe’s Vega C rocket before finally being assigned to a Falcon 9 due to delays with the Vega C. Dirk Bernaerts noted that the spacecraft’s design remained unchanged despite these shifts in launch vehicles, thanks to extensive environmental testing.
Future Plans and Temporary Reliance on SpaceX
The EarthCARE mission is the second ESA-led project to be launched on a Falcon 9, following the Euclid space telescope last July. ESA plans to launch the Hera asteroid mission on another Falcon 9 this fall. This reliance on SpaceX is temporary, pending the debut of Europe’s Ariane 6 rocket, scheduled for its first launch in July, and the return to flight of Vega C by the end of the year.
Post-Launch Remarks
Simonetta Cheli, ESA’s director of Earth observation programs, reported that initial contact with the spacecraft was successful, and the mission is proceeding as planned. The coming weeks and months will involve detailed checks and calibrations of the spacecraft’s instruments, with the first release of scientific data expected by the end of this year or early next year.
Emotional Milestone
The successful launch marked a significant milestone for all involved. Thorsten Fehr, EarthCARE mission scientist at ESA, described the experience as an “emotional roller coaster” and one of the greatest moments of his professional life.
The EarthCARE mission represents a significant step forward in understanding the impact of clouds and aerosols on Earth’s climate. Despite numerous challenges and delays, the collaborative efforts between ESA, JAXA, and SpaceX have ensured the mission’s successful launch and set the stage for groundbreaking scientific discoveries in atmospheric science.
