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.
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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
- Successful and operational. EarthCARE launched on 29 May 2024 and its four instruments now provide coordinated measurements of clouds, aerosols, and radiation. The mission’s cloud-profiling radar produced early Doppler observations, and on 10 June 2026 ECMWF began assimilating EarthCARE radar data into global forecasts—the first operational use of spaceborne cloud-radar observations by a weather centre—advancing climate and weather modelling.
- Programs
- Start Date
- 2024-05-29
- Vehicle Families
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- July 20, 2026 at 08:00:24 UTC
- Updated Time
- September 8, 2026 at 09:12:06 UTC
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- Space Stations
- -
- Vehicles