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EarthCARE Mission

EarthCARE is an active ESA-JAXA Earth-observation mission that combines a cloud-profiling radar, atmospheric lidar, multispectral imager, and broadband radiometer. The coordinated measurements reveal how clouds and aerosols interact with radiation and help improve climate models and numerical weather prediction.

EarthCARE Mission
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Identity

Aliases
ESA EarthCAREEarth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer launchEarthCAREEarthCARE missionEarth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer
Name
EarthCARE Mission
Status
active

Details

Astronauts
-
Description
EarthCARE is an active ESA-JAXA Earth-observation mission that combines a cloud-profiling radar, atmospheric lidar, multispectral imager, and broadband radiometer. The coordinated measurements reveal how clouds and aerosols interact with radiation and help improve climate models and numerical weather prediction.
Destination
Polar, dawn-dusk, Sun-synchronous orbit at 393 km (97° inclination) for four-instrument observations of clouds and aerosols and their role in regulating Earth’s climate and radiation balance
Launch Site
Outcome
Successfully deployed EarthCARE into low Earth orbit; the observatory is active
Programs
Start Date
2024-05-29
Vehicle Families

Links

Assets & Meta

Creation Time
July 20, 2026 at 08:00:24 UTC
Updated Time
August 23, 2026 at 02:24:22 UTC

Other

Affiliations
Search Name
EarthCARE Mission ESA EarthCARE Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer launch EarthCARE EarthCARE mission Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer
Space Stations
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Vehicles