Author Topic: Vega Flight VV12 - ADM-Aeolus - August 22, 2018  (Read 43022 times)

Offline bolun

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Vega Flight VV12 - ADM-Aeolus - August 22, 2018
« on: 01/02/2012 03:11 pm »
ESA's wind mission ADM-Aeolus

The Earth Explorer Atmospheric Dynamics Mission (ADM-Aeolus) will provide global observations of wind profiles from space to improve the quality of weather forecasts, and to advance our understanding of atmospheric dynamics and climate processes.
 
Although there are several ways of measuring wind from a satellite, ADM-Aeolus will utilise the active Doppler Wind Lidars (DWL) method. This is the only method that has the potential to provide the required data globally, from direct wind observations. In addition, a DWL will provide information on cloud top heights, vertical distribution of cloud, aerosol properties, and wind variability. This information is a useful by-product of the DWL method.

An improved model of the Earth’s climate and atmosphere will lead to progress in numerical weather prediction (NWP), especially concerning long-term forecasting. It is widely recognised that a new global atmospheric observing system, such as ADM-Aeolus, will have a great effect upon operational weather forecasting. The provision of detailed wind profiles will also benefit scientists involved with climate research, allowing for greater accuracy in the numerical modelling of tropical regions in particular. 

http://www.esa.int/esaLP/ESAES62VMOC_LPadmaeolus_0.html

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ESA's Earth Explorers missions

http://www.esa.int/esaEO/SEM9JP2VQUD_index_0_m.html
« Last Edit: 08/22/2018 07:59 pm by input~2 »

Offline bolun

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Re: ESA - ADM-Aeolus updates
« Reply #1 on: 05/31/2012 07:48 pm »
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM8BNZWD2H_index_0.html

From ESA Bulletin 150 (Page 82)

Quote
Aeolus

The first laser transmitter has completed an endurance test in near-vacuum conditions with overall positive results. Specific performance issues are being analysed and refurbishment will be carried out before formal qualification for flight.

The master oscillator of the second flight laser transmitter is aligned and tests show good performance.

Refurbishment of the transmitting and receiving optics has almost been completed and the delta-qualification of the main optical bench is now in preparation.

Offline bolun

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Re: ESA - ADM-Aeolus updates
« Reply #2 on: 04/17/2013 11:00 am »
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/The_Living_Planet_Programme/Earth_Explorers/ADM-Aeolus/90_million_laser_shots_bring_wind_satellite_back_on_track

Quote
Aeolus carries a pioneering instrument called Aladin that uses laser light scattering and the Doppler effect to gather data on wind.
 
The laser generates high-energy UV light, which is beamed towards Earth through a telescope. As the light travels down through the atmosphere, it bounces off molecules of gas, particles of dust and droplets of water.

This scatters some of the light in all directions, including back to the satellite where it is recorded by Aladin.
 
By comparing the shift in frequency of the received light from the transmitted light caused by the Doppler effect, the motion of the molecules in the atmosphere can be measured, revealing wind velocity.
 
The laser transmitter is being developed by Selex-ES in Italy.

Image credit: Selex-ES

Offline bolun

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Re: ESA - ADM-Aeolus updates
« Reply #3 on: 04/23/2015 12:56 pm »
Aladin

A technical view of the ADM-Aeolus satellite’s Aladin instrument. It incorporates two powerful lasers, a large telescope and very sensitive receivers. The laser generates UV light which is beamed towards Earth. This light bounces off air molecules and small particles such as dust, ice and droplets of water in the atmosphere. The fraction of light that is scattered back towards the satellite is collected by Aladin’s telescope and measured. The movement of the air molecules, particles or droplets cause this backscattered light to change frequencies slightly. By comparing these frequencies with the original laser, the winds below the satellite can be determined.

The mission will provide accurate and timely profiles of the world’s winds as well as information on aerosols and clouds. These profiles will not only advance our understanding of atmospheric dynamics, but will also offer much-needed information to improve weather forecasts.

http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2015/04/Aladin

Related article:

- Perseverance paves way for wind laser

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/The_Living_Planet_Programme/Earth_Explorers/ADM-Aeolus/Perseverance_paves_way_for_wind_laser

Credit: ESA/ATG medialab

Offline bolun

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Re: ESA - ADM-Aeolus updates
« Reply #4 on: 06/30/2016 01:26 pm »

Offline bolun

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Re: ESA - ADM-Aeolus updates
« Reply #5 on: 08/02/2016 08:28 pm »
Aladin ready for Aeolus

After many years in development, Aladin – the Doppler wind lidar to be carried on the Aeolus satellite – is ready to be shipped from Toulouse, France, to the UK to be installed on the satellite in preparation for liftoff by the end of 2017. Aeolus will be the first satellite mission to probe the wind globally. These vertical slices through the atmosphere, along with information on aerosols and clouds, will advance our knowledge of atmospheric dynamics and contribute to climate research.

Its state-of-the art Aladin instrument incorporates two powerful lasers, a large telescope and very sensitive receivers. The laser generates ultraviolet light that is beamed towards Earth. This light bounces off air molecules and small particles such as dust, ice and droplets of water in the atmosphere. The fraction of light that is scattered back towards the satellite is collected by Aladin’s telescope and measured.

Related article: Aladin wind probe ready for Aeolus

http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2016/08/Aladin_ready_for_Aeolus

Image credit: Airbus Defence and Space

Offline bolun

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Re: ESA - ADM-Aeolus updates
« Reply #6 on: 09/07/2016 02:00 pm »
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/The_Living_Planet_Programme/Earth_Explorers/ADM-Aeolus/Vega_to_launch_ESA_s_wind_mission

Quote
Today, ESA and Arianespace signed a contract to secure the launch of the Aeolus satellite. With this milestone, a better understanding of Earth’s winds is another step closer.

The contract, worth €32.57 million, was signed at ESA headquarters in Paris, France, by ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programmes, Josef Aschbacher, and CEO of Arianespace, Stéphane Israël.

Josef Aschbacher said, “Aeolus has certainly had its fair share of problems. However, with the main technical hurdles resolved and the launch contract now in place, we can look forward to it lifting off on a Vega rocket from French Guiana, which we envisage happening by the end of 2017.”

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: ESA - ADM-Aeolus updates
« Reply #7 on: 01/23/2017 04:24 pm »
World's First Weather-Cracking Wind Satellite Aeolus to Improve Future Forecasts
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201701191049770279-europe-weather-satellite-study/
A team of scientists at the Airbus Defense and Space Center in the UK, have bid farewell to a satellite this week, which will allow for more accurate weather predictions, as it was shipped to France for testing, before being launched into space.

The satellite, called Aeolus and named after the ruler of the winds in Greek mythology, is a one of a kind instrument that will study Earth's wind patterns from space, using a powerful laser pulse called Aladin.

Dr. Ralph Cordey,  one of the lead researchers on the Aeolus project, said that the instrument was built to measure the wind in the Earth's atmosphere from space and it will be the first instrument that will be able to do this.

"The spacecraft will orbit around the Earth and the satellite will carry a laser that fires pulses of ultraviolet light. It carries a telescope that will pick up the faint reflective signals of that light that are scattered by the gas molecules in the Earth's atmosphere and also dust particles and aerosols. It will use the Doppler effect and decide to access the velocity of the dust gas that scatters the signals, so it measures the speed of the air," Dr. Ralph Cordey told Sputnik.

Aeolus will orbit the Earth for 3.5 years and during that period it will be used by the Met Office — UK's national weather service — to improve the forecast.

Dr. Cordey and his team hope that Aelous will help reduce the uncertainties in understanding weather patterns. The scientists also expect that the satellite will have a lot of impact on the world's tropical areas.

"Basically weather forecasts use computers that take in observations from satellites and that goes into a big model that predicts what will happen, so by adding this data, that is not in the model at the moment, we hope to improve the forecasts," Dr. Cordey told Sputnik.

As a result, it is believed that weather prediction will be more accurate. According to Dr. Cordey, the team expect that it will be a lot more precise and we should see this as soon as the satellite is launched.

The idea originated from a mission back in the 1990s. Dr. Cordey said that there have been many attempts and ideas to put lasers into space, and over time the technology to do this has improved.

The satellite project, which has been in production since 2003, is a high-powered system and has been worked on by several different teams in various locations around the world.
"The laser was developed by a team in Italy, the telescope, a team in Toulouse and the satellite that carries the big instrument was developed in Stevenage [UK]," Dr. Cordey told Sputnik.

"Then there is the Assembly Integration and Test — that's when you are putting together and testing the instrument to see that it works.

"All the testing is not yet completed and the satellite will be transported to Toulouse [France] for testing to make sure it can stand up to the vibrations of going on a rocket. Then it will go to Belgium to be put in a vacuum chamber to see if it can survive in the vacuum of space. Finally, it will be launched from South America into space," Dr. Cordey added.

According to Dr. Cordey and his team, the UK will provide cutting-edge technology, combined with world-leading weather forecasting, which will make it a leading weather research hub.
NASA and NOAA are watching this mission closely ahead of formulating the design for new generation weather satellites.

Offline bolun

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Re: ESA - ADM-Aeolus updates
« Reply #8 on: 02/04/2017 10:17 am »
Aeolus ready for next step

Now that Aeolus is equipped with its Aladin instrument, it is ready to be moved from Airbus Defence and Space in the UK to their facilities in Toulouse, France. There it will start the last round of tests before being shipped to the launch site.

- Related article: Wind satellite heads for final tenting

http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2017/01/Aeolus_ready_for_next_step

Image credit: Airbus Defence and Space

Re: ESA - ADM-Aeolus updates
« Reply #9 on: 02/05/2017 07:28 am »
Aeolus ready for next step

Now that Aeolus is equipped with its Aladin instrument, it is ready to be moved from Airbus Defence and Space in the UK to their facilities in Toulouse, France. There it will start the last round of tests before being shipped to the launch site.

- Related article: Wind satellite heads for final tenting

http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2017/01/Aeolus_ready_for_next_step

Image credit: Airbus Defence and Space


Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: ESA - ADM-Aeolus updates
« Reply #10 on: 03/23/2017 09:14 am »
Quote
Jonathan Amos‏ @BBCAmos 10m10 minutes ago

Jonathan Amos Retweeted Airbus Space

Now to let's see whether the #Aeolus lidar works end to end in a vacuum at space temps. The last big test. #Wind

https://twitter.com/BBCAmos/status/844852137888661504

Quote
Quote
Airbus Space‏ Verified account @AirbusSpace

Successful vibration tests for @esa’s wind sensing satellite #Aeolus built by @AirbusSpace. #goodvibrations

https://twitter.com/AirbusSpace/status/844847725044678656

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: ESA - ADM-Aeolus updates
« Reply #11 on: 07/21/2017 06:05 pm »


Quote
Published on 21 Jul 2017
ESA will soon launch a new Earth Explorer satellite called Aeolus. Using cutting-edge laser technology, Aeolus will deliver timely and accurate profiles of the world’s winds along with information on aerosols and clouds. This will not only advance our understanding of atmospheric dynamics, but will also provide much-needed information to improve weather forecasts.

Offline bolun

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Re: ESA - ADM-Aeolus updates
« Reply #12 on: 11/02/2017 11:25 am »
Aeolus ready for the chamber

ESA’s Aeolus satellite ready to be put in the thermal–vacuum chamber for testing. Simulating the environment of space, the chamber is used to make sure the satellite will work in space. Aeolus will measure profiles of the world’s winds using novel laser technology. This will not only advance our knowledge of atmospheric dynamics, but also provide much-needed information to improve weather forecasts.

- Related article: Wind satellite vacuum packed

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Aeolus/Wind_satellite_vacuum_packed

Image credit: ESA

Offline bolun

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Re: ESA - ADM-Aeolus updates
« Reply #13 on: 03/06/2018 07:30 pm »
Aeolus fitted to launcher cone

As part of the series of tests being carried out at Intespace in Toulouse, France, the Aeolus satellite has been given a ‘fit check’ to see that it can be connected to its Vega rocket. Aeolus will be launched from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana in the autumn of 2018. Carrying pioneering ultraviolet lasers, never before flown in space, Aeolus will provide slices through the world’s winds along with information on aerosols and clouds.

https://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2018/03/Aeolus_fitted_to_launcher_cone

Image credit: ESA–G. Labruyere

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Re: ESA - ADM-Aeolus updates
« Reply #14 on: 03/23/2018 07:37 am »
Quote
This week we were very pleased to welcome @ESA officials in our premises in Toulouse 🇫🇷. The delegation visited our cleanroom to see the #Aeolus wind sensing satellite.

https://twitter.com/airbusspace/status/977100163780173824?s=21

Online Salo

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Re: ESA - ADM-Aeolus updates
« Reply #15 on: 05/06/2018 12:56 pm »
https://aeolusweb.wordpress.com/
https://aeolusweb.wordpress.com/2018/04/06/corrections/
Quote
06/04/2018
The preparation of aeolus for his departure to French Guyana is progressing normally. It  seems to be sleeping but aeolus is working hard. Operators and software engineers are correcting software and procedures errors that were encountered during aeolus functional tests. Correcting is mostly about verifying that the corrections work in all imaginable situations ! Cables that show aeolus as under perfusion actually provide the stimuli that it would receive if it was in orbit.
« Last Edit: 05/06/2018 01:01 pm by Salo »

Online Salo

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Re: ESA - ADM-Aeolus updates
« Reply #16 on: 05/06/2018 01:01 pm »
https://aeolusweb.wordpress.com/2018/05/05/21-08-2018-1820/
Quote
05/05/2018
The date of aeolus launch is (finally) official. It will be August 21, 2018, at 18:20 Kourou time, 23:20 Paris time. aeolus will be put into orbit by the 12th model of Vega, the smallest launcher that is available to Arianespace in French Guiana. The launch campaign will begin the very first days of July. This blog will follow the day-to-day campaign.
In the meantime, aeolus functional tests are running without any major hitch.

Offline bolun

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Re: ESA - ADM-Aeolus updates
« Reply #17 on: 05/18/2018 02:50 pm »
N° 10–2018: CALL FOR MEDIA: LAST LOOK AT ESA’S AEOLUS WIND SATELLITE

17 May 2018

Carrying novel laser technology to measure winds around the globe, ESA’s Aeolus satellite will soon be shipped to French Guiana for liftoff. This is the first time that UV laser technology will be used for such spaceborne measurements. Before it is packed up, media representatives are invited to see this extraordinary satellite in the cleanroom at Airbus Defence and Space’s facilities in Toulouse, France, on 5 June 2018.

By probing the atmosphere with a powerful laser, Aeolus is set to advance our understanding of tropical dynamics and processes relevant to climate variability, and, importantly, improve weather forecasts.

Many aspects of our lives are influenced by the weather, so it goes without saying that accurate forecasts are important for commercial undertakings such as farming, fishing, construction and transport – and, in general, forecasts make it easier to plan the days ahead. Although forecasts have advanced considerably in recent years, meteorologists urgently need global wind-profile data to improve them even further.

The press event not only includes a visit to the cleanroom for a unique view of this latest space technology – the first wind lidar ever to be launched, but it also includes briefings by mission experts from ESA and from Airbus and the opportunity to conduct interviews.

Programme

(All times CEST)

11:00 - Welcome by Airbus

Mathilde Royer Germain, Head of Earth Observation, Navigation and Science at Airbus Space Systems

11:10 - Aeolus and ESA’s Earth observation programmes

Josef Aschbacher,ESA’s director of Earth observation programmes

11:20 - Aeolus – getting ready for launch

A. Elfving, Aeolus project manager, ESA
R. Wimmer , Aeolus project manager, Airbus

11:45 - Aeolus – looking at the data

A. Straume, Aeolus mission scientist, ESA
A. Dabas, MeteoFrance, Aeolus data user & member of the Aeolus mission advisory group

12:10 - Q&A 
                     
12:30 - Lunch buffet                                                                                     

13:30 - Visit of Astrolabe Clean Room (possibility to film)

14:30 - Interview slots, informal discussions                                   

15:00  - Programme ends

Accreditation

Media can register until 22 May by writing to [email protected] or [email protected].
ID/passport scan should be provided and filming or shooting equipment should be announced upon registration.

Location:

Airbus – Toulouse
31 rue des cosmonautes, Z.I du Palays

More about Aeolus: www.esa.int/aeolus

https://www.esa.int/For_Media/Press_Releases/Call_for_Media_Last_look_at_ESA_s_Aeolus_wind_satellite

Offline jacqmans

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Re: ESA - ADM-Aeolus updates
« Reply #18 on: 06/05/2018 03:56 pm »
Before ESA’s Aeolus satellite is packed up and shipped to French Guiana for liftoff in August, media representatives had the chance to see this wind measuring Earth Explorer satellite standing proud in the cleanroom.

Like all of the Earth Explorers, Aeolus was built to show how cutting-edge space technology can shed new light on the intricate workings of our planet.

This pioneering satellite uses powerful laser technology that probes the lowermost 30 km of our atmosphere to yield vertical profiles of the wind as well as information on aerosols and clouds.

This will not only improve our understanding of how the atmosphere works and contribute to climate change research, but will also help to predict extreme events such as hurricanes and El Niño.

While Aeolus is set to advance science, it will also bring considerable benefits to society by improving weather forecasts.


Copyrights : ESA-Manuel Pedoussaut, 2018.
Jacques :-)

Offline Star One

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Re: ESA - ADM-Aeolus updates
« Reply #19 on: 06/10/2018 08:59 pm »
New article by Jonathan Amos.

Aeolus: Wind satellite weathers technical storm

Quote
They say there is no gain without pain, but when the European Space Agency (Esa) set out in 2002 to develop its Aeolus satellite, no-one could have imagined the grief the project would bring.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-44415752

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