Airbus Defence and Space said Thursday it has signed an initial contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) to design and build the Aeolus-2 wind-sensing satellite, a follow-on mission that aims to improve global weather forecasting and atmospheric monitoring.

The contract was signed during a ceremony at ESA's European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT) in Harwell, southern England. Airbus said Aeolus-2 will succeed the original Aeolus satellite, launched in 2018, which was the first mission to provide high-resolution vertical wind profiles from space.

According to Airbus, data from the first Aeolus mission improved numerical weather forecasting by around 4% and enhanced the accuracy of global weather prediction models. The satellite operated until 2023 and also contributed to research on atmospheric circulation, climate change, hurricanes, and the movement of volcanic ash.

ESA Director of Earth Observation Programmes Simonetta Cheli said the original mission had demonstrated the value of space-based wind observations for weather forecasting.

"Aeolus exceeded expectations and demonstrated the transformative impact that space-based wind observations can have on weather forecasting. Aeolus-2 represents the natural evolution of that achievement—from pioneering research to an operational service that will benefit citizens and businesses worldwide," she said.

UK Space Minister Liz Lloyd said the new mission would strengthen Britain's role in satellite-based weather forecasting and the European space sector.

"Aeolus-2 will deliver real benefits for people across the UK, from more accurate weather forecasts that protect lives and communities to the highly skilled jobs that come from being a key partner in Europe's most ambitious space science programmes," she said.

Lloyd added that the UK's continued investment in the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) has kept British expertise central to advanced space science projects.

Kata Escott, Managing Director of Airbus Defence and Space in the UK, said the programme represents both a scientific mission and an investment in British engineering expertise.

"Aeolus-2 is more than a scientific mission; it is a major investment in British talent. This project allows our highly skilled UK teams to apply their unique expertise to enhance weather monitoring and lead the way globally in Earth observation and science," she said.

Airbus said Aeolus-2 will carry an advanced Doppler wind lidar equipped with ultraviolet lasers capable of measuring wind speeds from the Earth's surface to an altitude of about 30 kilometres. The satellite will also feature an additional detector to monitor atmospheric aerosols, expanding its scientific capabilities.

The mission is being developed by ESA in partnership with EUMETSAT and is expected to provide operational data for major meteorological agencies, including the UK's Met Office and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF).

Airbus said Aeolus-2 will orbit Earth at an altitude of about 450 kilometres, complete approximately 15 orbits each day, and deliver weather data within two hours of each measurement. 

The satellite is designed to operate for about 5.5 years, supporting weather forecasting and climate research while reinforcing Europe's capabilities in Earth observation and meteorological science.

Source: PR