CO2M spectrometers in the cleanroom

Europe’s pioneering Copernicus Anthropogenic Carbon Dioxide Monitoring (CO2M) mission has cleared a significant development milestone, marking further progress towards a new era of greenhouse gas monitoring from space.

Engineers at Thales Alenia Space have completed the vacuum testing phase for the first satellite’s imaging spectrometer, demonstrating its ability to operate in the extreme conditions of space. The photograph shows the first CO2M payload (back of the cleanroom) and the second payload (front of the cleanroom).

Once in orbit and operational, the CO2M mission will measure atmospheric carbon dioxide and methane concentrations. Remarkably, CO2M will make it possible to distinguish between natural and human-induced sources of carbon dioxide and methane.

Read full story: Carbon dioxide monitoring satellite’s instrument passes vacuum test