Earth Observation Programmes
Only space provides the perspective to understand, monitor and act on our changing world.
28 MAR. 2023
publication date
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Name
Far-infrared Outgoing Radiation Understanding and Monitoring (FORUM)
Scientific objectives
FORUM will be used to evaluate the role of the far-infrared in shaping the climate and thus reduce uncertainty in predictions of future climate change
Launch
2027
Rocket
Vega-C from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana
Orbit
Polar, Sun-synchronous, average altitude of 830 km, mean local solar time at the descending node of 09:30, 29-day repeat-cycle. FORUM orbits in loose formation with MetOp-SG(1A).
Satellite
2.3 m high, and 5 m diameter
Mass
944 kg (including 82 kg fuel)
Instrument
A Fourier transform spectrometer covering the 6.25–100 micron spectral region with a radiometric accuracy of 0.1 Kelvin, and an embedded imager with a single spectral channel sensitive to the Earth’s surface and to clouds for scene heterogeneity characterisation.
Ground-samples
15 km round pixel every 100 km for the spectrum together with the simultaneous acquisition of five consecutive images of 36 km × 36 km with 750 m horizontal resolution to provide context for the observed scene.
Life
Minimum of 5 years
Communication
Science data transmitted via X-band downlink; tracking, telemetry and command via S-band uplink
Mission control
ESA’s European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt (DE)
Data processing
ESA’s Centre for Earth Observation (ESRIN), in Frascati (IT)
Project and commissioning
Managed at ESA’s European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in Noordwijk, the Netherlands
Prime contractor
Airbus (UK), with Airbus (DE) taking the lead on the payload, and OHB (DE) and Leonardo (IT) responsible for the instruments
Media modal
Earth Explorers
The need to understand more about the intricacies of how Earth works as a system and how humanity is affecting natural processes is more urgent than ever so that appropriate policies to act on the climate crisis can be put in place and environmental challenges such as those outlined in Europe’s Green Deal can be addressed as effectively as possible. Through FutureEO, the series of world-class Earth Explorer research satellite missions are realised.
ESA ESOC
The European Space Operations
Centre in Darmstadt, Germany, is
where we control our missions and
build the systems on the ground
that manage our fleet of spacecraft
in orbit.
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