French Guiana - Kourou - Meteorology: ESA Sends Europe's Aeolus Lidar-equipped Wind Satellite into Orbit

Vega lifts off from Europe's 
Space port in Korou, French Guiana

ESA’s Earth Explorer Aeolus satellite has been successfully launched into polar orbit on a Vega rocket.

Using revolutionary Lidar technology, Aeolus will measure winds around the globe and play a key role in the quest to better understand the workings of the atmosphere. Importantly, this novel mission will also improve weather forecasting.

Carrying the 1,360kg Aeolus satellite, the Vega rocket lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, at 21:20 GMT (23:20 CEST, 18:20 local time) on 22 August. Some 55 minutes later,

Vega’s upper stage delivered Aeolus into orbit and contact was established through the Troll ground station in Antarctica at 00:30 CEST on 23 August.

Named after Aeolus, who in Greek mythology was appointed ‘keeper of the winds’ by the Gods, this novel mission is the fifth in the family of Europe's ESA’s Earth Explorers, which address the most urgent Earth-science questions of our time.

Read more: ESA Sends Aeolus Lidar-equipped Wind Satellite into Orbit