Last month ESA retired ERS-2 satellite after an astonishing 16 years of service. The veteran satellite was shut down after its orbit was lowered to reduce the risk of collision with other satellites and space debris.

ERS-2 was launched in 1995, four years after ERS-1, the first European Remote Sensing satellite.

The ERS-satellites have been providing scientists with high-quality data for 20 years.

An unprecedented accomplishment and an enormous achievement for Earth Observation, the two missions not only paved the way for satellite technology in the areas of atmosphere, land, ocean and ice monitoring but also for the understanding of our home planet.

This A and B rolls recall what ERS have accomplished with interviews of Volker Liebig, ESA Earth Observation Programmes Director and of several scientists who worked on ERS missions and results.

More backgroud information can be found on: http://www.esa.int/esaEO/SEM8Q40UDSG_index_0.html

The MPEG-2 files are on the ESA ftp server in the folder entitled : ftp://esa.contentcoders.com/mpeg2/ERS-07102011/