ADM-Aeolus - Vega - Куру/CSG - 22.08.2018

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ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations 4 мин. назад

FIRST COMMAND!! #ESOC sends the first command to #Aeolus — just a simple #ping to say 'hello'!

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ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations 3 мин.назад

Loss of #Aeolus signal at #Troll as the spacecraft begins its first full orbit, heading north over the Americas

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Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight 7 мин. назад

AOS! After a pretty long delay "Phew that was a relief!"

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ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations 6 мин. назад

As #Aeolus travels North, out of ground contact as planned, flight controllers at #ESOC are poring over the data downloaded at #Troll - so far so good

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Заключительное слово

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http://www.arianespace.com/mission-update/vega-vv12-success-aeolus/

Vega | August 22, 2018

Understanding the Earth's weather: Arianespace launches Europe's Aeolus wind-monitoring satellite



Arianespace marked another mission accomplished for the Earth's sustainable development as its light-lift Vega vehicle successfully orbited Europe's Aeolus – the first satellite designed to profile wind profiles on a global scale.

Lifting off from the Spaceport's Vega Launch Complex at 6:20:09 p.m. local time in French Guiana – the planned precise moment of launch – Vega lofted its passenger during a flight lasting just under 55 minutes, with Aeolus placed into a Sun-synchronous orbit.

Built by Airbus Defence and Space, the satellite carries a laser Doppler wind LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) system called Aladin that will probe the lowermost 30 km. of the atmosphere in measuring winds around the Earth.

The LIDAR's near-real-time observations will provide reliable wind profiles, further improving the accuracy of numerical weather and climate prediction, as well as advance the understanding of tropical dynamics and processes relevant to climate variability.

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Vega's success by the numbers

In post-launch comments from the Spaceport, Arianespace CEO Stéphane Israël congratulated this mission's customer – the European Space Agency (ESA) – and underscored his company's continuing contributions to space research and science at the service of such institutions. "Ensuring reliable and independent access to space for Europe is our no. 1 mission," he added. "It would not be possible without the long-term partnership we have with ESA."

Aeolus is the milestone 50th satellite – and the eighth dedicated to Earth observation – launched by Arianespace for ESA. It is one of the agency's Earth Explorer missions, which address key scientific challenges identified by the science community and demonstrate breakthrough technology in observing techniques.

Marking another milestone, Aeolus also is the 120th Airbus-produced spacecraft launched by Arianespace, with 20 more still in the company's order book.

A track record of excellence

Designated Flight VV12, today's mission was Vega's 12th since entering service in 2012 (all of which have been successful), and it further demonstrated the capabilities of a light-lift vehicle that completes Arianespace's launcher family – joining the company's medium-lift Soyuz and heavyweight Ariane 5 in reliable side-by-side operations from the Spaceport in French Guiana. Vega is provided to Arianespace by Italy's Avio, which is the industrial prime contractor.

The 12 successful missions performed to date by Vega were for both institutional customers and commercial export customers, confirming the launcher's operational capabilities as well as its adaptability.

Flight VV12 was Arianespace's fifth mission in 2018, and the company's first this year using Vega. Next up in the company's manifest is the milestone 100th launch of a workhorse Ariane 5, which will orbit the Horizons 3e and Azerspace-2/Intelsat-38 satellites in September.

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Jonathan McDowell‏Подлинная учетная запись @planet4589 46 мин. назад

Aeolus has separated from the AVUM stage and is now in orbit 321 km up. AVUM will deorbit over the Indian Ocean in about an hour

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http://www.arianespace.com/press-release/vega-vv12-success-aeolus/

Vega | August 22, 2018

Another successful launch by Arianespace and Vega for ESA and sustainable development



Arianespace has successfully launched the European Space Agency's (ESA) Aeolus satellite, the first space mission designed to acquire profiles of Earth's winds on a global scale.

The launch took place on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 at 6:20 p.m. (local time) from the Guiana Space Center (CSG), Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana (South America).

Today's launch was the fifth of the year for Arianespace, the first with Vega and the 12th successful launch in a row of this light launcher.

This innovative mission once again clearly demonstrates Arianespace's commitment to sustainable development, and to guaranteeing independent access to space for Europe.

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Arianespace supports sustainable development

Aeolus is the first space mission designed to measure wind profiles across the entire planet. It will deliver data and 3D dynamic maps that will help improve weather forecasting and climate research. The first wind observation satellite using laser technology, Aeolus carries a single instrument, a Doppler wind lidar called Aladin (Atmospheric LAser Doppler INstrument). This instrument will probe the atmosphere with pioneering ultraviolet laser pulses, which will enhance our understanding of tropical dynamics and processes relevant to climate variability.

Fully committed to making life better on Earth, Arianespace has already launched 65 Earth observation satellites in the framework of 46 missions. These satellites primarily are designed for meteorology, mapping and environmental monitoring (land, oceans and atmosphere). Arianespace leverages the versatility of its complete family of launch vehicles, Ariane, Soyuz and Vega, to carry out these missions for European institutions and governments, as well as in export markets.

Three more Arianespace missions for Earth observation and environmental monitoring are scheduled in 2018, using all three launchers in the family.

50th successful mission for ESA

Along with the successful launch of the four latest Galileo satellites by Ariane 5 on July 25, today's launch reflects the strong collaboration between ESA and Arianespace. In fact, this mission was the 50th performed for the European Space Agency by Arianespace, as it continues to guarantee independent and reliable access to space for Europe, and enable people from around the world to benefit from Europe's ongoing investment in space technology.

Arianespace's next mission for ESA will be the launch of BepiColombo, a major scientific mission to explore the planet Mercury. BepiColombo is expected to lift off on an Ariane 5 in October this year.

12th successful Vega launch in a row

Today's launch of Aeolus marks the 12th success in a row for the Vega light launcher since it was introduced at the Guiana Space Center in 2012. Based on this flawless performance, Vega has established its position as the most reliable and versatile launcher in its class. Avio, based at Colleferro in Italy, is the prime contractor for Vega, which was developed within the scope of an ESA program. Arianespace's backlog includes nine missions for the Vega and Vega C launcher versions: one-third for European institutions and two-thirds for export customers. These nine missions comprise eight for Earth observation, as well as a grouped mission using the SSMS (Small Spacecraft Mission Service) system, which can carry up to 81 small satellites – demonstrating the launcher's versatility and ability to respond to the dynamic small satellite market.

The development of the new-generation Vega C is continuing, with a first flight planned in 2019. Compared with the current version, Vega C will offer higher performance in terms of payload capacity (weight and volume) and greater flexibility to handle a wider range of missions (from nanosatellites to large optical and radar observation satellites), further increasing the competitiveness of Arianespace's launch solutions.

Shortly after the announcement of the satellite's orbital injection, Stéphane Israël, Chief Executive Officer of Arianespace, said: "With this fifth mission of the year, and the first launched by Vega, Arianespace also chalks up its 50th mission for the European Space Agency and expresses its primary vocation of ensuring autonomous and reliable access to space for Europe.

"Arianespace is all the more proud of this success because Aeolus will support sustainable development and further our understanding of climate phenomena. More than ever, space will play a critical role in the mobilization needed to safeguard our planet.

"Today's flight also marks the 12th consecutive successful Vega launch, clearly confirming this launcher as best in its class. I would like to thank all our partners who contributed to this success: Airbus Defence and Space, which built this high-tech satellite; ESA and its member-states who are part of the Vega program; Avio, prime contractor for the Vega launcher and all of its industrial partners; CNES/CSG, our ground segment companies and all staff at the space center. Lastly, congratulations to everyone at Arianespace for this fifth launch of the year."

Aeolus

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• The Aeolus satellite was built by Airbus Defence and Space.
• It weighed 1,357 kg at launch, and will be placed in Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of about 320 km. It offers a design life of three years.
  

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ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations 3 мин. назад

#Aeolus should now have spread its wings and started to rotate them towards the Sun to replenish its batteries


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ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations 42 сек. назад

Acquisition of #Aeolus signal at #Inuvik — the @SSCspace station in Northern Canada

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ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations 1 мин. назад

Ground controllers report solar array deployment complete! #Aeolus is pointing to the Sun and generating its own power!

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Arianespace Flight VV12 - Aeolus Launch Sequence

arianespace

Опубликовано: 22 авг. 2018 г.

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Aeolus deployment

SciNews

Опубликовано: 22 авг. 2018 г.

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http://blogs.esa.int/eolaunches/2018/08/22/aeolus-liftoff-replay/

Posted on August 22, 2018 by Honora

AEOLUS LIFTOFF REPLAY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=g3hxFwznsfM (2:55)

The Aeolus satellite lifted off on a Vega rocket from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, at 21:20 GMT (23:20 CEST, 18:20 local time) on 22 August 2018.

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http://blogs.esa.int/eolaunches/2018/08/22/esas-aeolus-wind-satellite-launched/

Posted on August 22, 2018 by Honora

ESA'S AEOLUS WIND SATELLITE LAUNCHED


Aeolus heads for orbit. (ESA/CNES/Arianespace)

ESA's Earth Explorer Aeolus satellite has been launched into polar orbit on a Vega rocket. Using revolutionary laser technology, Aeolus will measure winds around the globe and play a key role in our quest to better understand the workings of our atmosphere. Importantly, this novel mission will also improve weather forecasting.

Carrying the 1360 kg Aeolus satellite, the Vega rocket lifted off from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, at 21:20 GMT (23:20 CEST, 18:20 local time) on 22 August.

Some 55 minutes later, Vega's upper stage delivered Aeolus into orbit and contact was established through the Troll ground station in Antarctica at 00:30 CEST on 23 August.

Named after Aeolus, who in Greek mythology was appointed 'keeper of the winds' by the Gods, this novel mission is the fifth in the family of ESA's Earth Explorers, which address the most urgent Earth-science questions of our time.

"Aeolus epitomises the essence of an Earth Explorer. It will fill a gap in our knowledge of how the planet functions and demonstrate how cutting-edge technology can be used in space," said Jan Wörner, ESA Director General.

ESA's Director of Earth Observation Programmes, Josef Aschbacher, added, "Aeolus carries the first instrument of its kind and uses a completely new approach to measuring the wind from space. Such pioneering technology has meant that it has been a demanding mission to develop, but thanks to all the teams involved we are thrilled that this extraordinary satellite is now in orbit.

"We look forward to it living up to expectations!"

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Highlighted by the World Meteorological Organization, the lack of direct global wind measurements is one of the major deficits in the Global Observing System.

By filling this gap, Aeolus will give scientists the information they need to understand how wind, pressure, temperature and humidity are interlinked.

This new mission will provide insight into how the wind influences the exchange of heat and moisture between Earth's surface and the atmosphere – important aspects for understanding climate change.

Aeolus carries one of the most sophisticated instruments ever to be put into orbit. The first of its kind, the Aladin instrument includes revolutionary laser technology to generate pulses of ultraviolet light that are beamed down into the atmosphere to profile the world's winds – a completely new approach to measuring the wind from space.

While Aeolus is set to advance science, it will also benefit society. Although weather forecasts have advanced considerably in recent years, Aeolus will provide global wind profiles to improve the accuracy even further. In addition, its data will be used in air-quality models to improve forecasts of dust and other airborne particles that affect public health.

The satellite is being controlled from ESA's European Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt, Germany. Controllers will spend the next few months carefully checking and calibrating the mission as part of its commissioning phase.

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Arianespace Flight VV12 - Aeolus - Successful Mission

arianespace

Опубликовано: 22 авг. 2018 г.
Опубликовано: 23 авг. 2018 г.

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