ESA's mini weather mission exceeds expectations (2025)

ESA's mini weather mission exceeds expectations
by Erica Marchand
Paris, France (SPX) Apr 01, 2025

Launched just seven months ago, ESA's Arctic Weather Satellite has quickly demonstrated how the fast-track New Space strategy can accelerate the delivery of missions that offer high-quality atmospheric data crucial for short-term weather forecasting.

This compact prototype, developed on a tight schedule and modest budget, has impressed experts with its ability to generate temperature and humidity profiles rivaling those from more conventional, large-scale missions.

The satellite carries a 19-channel cross-track scanning microwave radiometer, capable of collecting data in all weather conditions. While designed with Arctic weather in mind, the spacecraft gathers data globally. The humidity measurements, in particular, are proving highly beneficial for Arctic forecasts, where water vapor levels shift rapidly.

Completed in under three years, this small satellite validates the New Space approach as a cost-efficient pathway toward a future constellation of weather-monitoring satellites. The next phase is a thorough performance evaluation to determine how well the data enhances forecasting models.

This validation is key for ESA and Eumetsat as they consider applying the model to the proposed EPS-Sterna constellation. Under this plan, ESA would manufacture the satellites, while Eumetsat would handle orbital operations and data dissemination, as it currently does with Meteosat and MetOp systems.

The Arctic Weather Satellite's data are being independently reviewed by Eumetsat and several national meteorological agencies across Europe, including institutions in Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Norway, Sweden, and the UK, along with the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.

Preliminary feedback from these agencies has been highly favorable. The satellite's instrument is performing on par with similar sensors in orbit, including those deployed by the US and China. Its humidity data, in particular, are already demonstrating a notable impact on forecast accuracy.

Philippe Chambon of Meteo-France commented, "Our team has carefully evaluated the quality of the Arctic Weather Satellite's data and has already been able to demonstrate a positive impact on our forecasts at the global scale, and we plan to include the data in our global prediction system later this year. This a very promising achievement in view of the EPS-Sterna constellation, which is seen as a key component of the future observing system."

Niels Bormann of ECMWF remarked, "The Arctic Weather Satellite is a great example of the quality of meteorological data that can be achieved from a small satellite. Our initial results are very promising for global weather forecasts and, if they hold up, we fully expect to use the data operationally later in the year. This is excellent news for the proposed EPS-Sterna constellation of six such satellites, which would greatly improve temporal coverage globally."

Adam Dybbroe from the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute added, "Together with the Nordic national meteorological services, we are evaluating the Arctic Weather Satellite's data for regional forecasting over Scandinavia and the Arctic. Given their good quality, we plan to integrate the data into our operational forecast model later this year, and we are expecting measurable improvements. This bodes well for the EPS-Sterna mission."

The satellite's onboard radiometer also includes a pioneering 325 GHz channel, marking the first use of this frequency in operational meteorology. Early results suggest this new channel can support improved cloud-ice detection, offering an additional boost to forecast accuracy.

ESA Project Manager Ville Kangas stated, "We have demonstrated that a small satellite, weighing just 125 kg, can match the performance of large meteorological missions. And since we are at a relatively early stage, the data still need to be further corrected and analysed so we expect the Arctic Weather Satellite to shine even more in the months to come."

Should the EPS-Sterna mission proceed, it would complement ESA's existing programs, including the Meteosat Third Generation and MetOp Second Generation missions. With MTG-S1 and MetOp-SG-A1 launches expected this summer, EPS-Sterna's six satellites would significantly improve the frequency of data coverage, especially over polar regions where current systems face limitations.

Related Links
Arctic Weather Satellite at ESA
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