The Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE) is equipped with four advanced instruments designed to analyze the interactions between clouds, aerosols, and solar radiation, which are crucial for understanding Earth's radiation balance amidst the escalating climate crisis.
After over a month sealed in its transport container, during which environmental conditions were meticulously monitored, the satellite has been removed and is now being readied for its mission. This process includes purging the container of nitrogen to maintain the integrity of the onboard instruments.
Located initially in a NASA facility, the satellite was later transferred to the Astrotech building for acclimatization before being extracted from its container-a critical and delicate operation given the satellite's sensitivity and weight of over 2000 kg.
Bill Simpson, ESA's EarthCARE launch campaign manager, expressed relief and excitement at the successful transfer and unpacking of the satellite, emphasizing the care taken during its extraction. He confirmed that the satellite appears in good condition, though it will undergo further testing to ensure its full functionality.
Dirk Bernaerts, ESA's EarthCARE Project Manager, declared the initiation of the launch campaign, a rigorous six-week process of preparations culminating in the satellite's encapsulation within a Falcon 9 rocket fairing for its launch.
For ongoing updates on the EarthCARE mission, follow ESA's launch campaign blog here
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