EarthCARE satellite contract signed   Signature of the EarthCARE contract between ESA and Astrium GmbH at ILA, Berlin, 27 May 2008. The contract was signed by Volker Liebig, ESA Director of Earth Observation, Evert Dudok, CEO of EADS Astrium Satellites and Uwe Minne, Director of Earth Observation and Science at Astrium GmbH, in the presence of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain and Head of the German Aerospace Centre DLR Johann-Dietrich Wörner.   EarthCARE (Earth Clouds, Aerosols and Radiation Explorer) is being implemented in cooperation with the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The mission addresses the need for a better understanding of the interactions between cloud, radiative and aerosol processes that play a role in climate regulation. Release date: 7 November 2011