N° 10–2018: Call for Media: Last look at ESA’s Aeolus wind satellite

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 Brigitte.kolmsee@esa.int or Guilhem.g.boltz@airbus.com.
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

 

About the European Space Agency

The European Space Agency (ESA) provides Europe’s gateway to space.

ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.

ESA has 22 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Slovenia is an Associate Member.

ESA has established formal cooperation with six Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.

By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. It is working in particular with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes as well as with Eumetsat for the development of meteorological missions.

ESA develops the launchers, spacecraft and ground facilities needed to keep Europe at the forefront of global space activities.

Today, it develops and launches satellites for Earth observation, navigation, telecommunications and astronomy, sends probes to the far reaches of the Solar System and cooperates in the human exploration of space. ESA also has a strong applications programme developing services in Earth observation, navigation and telecommunications.

Learn more about ESA at www.esa.int

For further information, please contact:
ESA Media Relations Office
Email: media@esa.int
Tel: +33 1 53 69 72 99