Airbus Defence and Space has secured a contract to build Aeolus-2, a European wind-monitoring satellite designed to advance atmospheric science and climate prediction. The European Space Agency commissioned the spacecraft to succeed the original Aeolus satellite, which operated from 2018 until its controlled deorbiting in 2023.
Aeolus-2 will carry advanced lidar technology to measure wind profiles across the atmosphere with unprecedented precision. The satellite employs ultraviolet laser pulses to detect aerosol particles and molecules in the air, calculating wind speed and direction from the Doppler shift of reflected light. This capability fills a critical observational gap in global weather forecasting and climate monitoring networks.
The original Aeolus mission revolutionized wind data collection despite operating beyond its planned five-year lifespan. Ground-based weather stations and radiosondes provide spotty coverage, while radar systems struggle with vertical atmospheric profiling. Aeolus data improved numerical weather prediction models substantially, enhancing forecast accuracy for storms and other weather systems.
Aeolus-2 will operate in a sun-synchronous polar orbit at roughly 320 kilometers altitude. The enhanced instrument design promises better range resolution and measurement accuracy compared to its predecessor. These improvements allow meteorologists to detect wind shear layers and atmospheric dynamics more effectively, directly benefiting seasonal forecasts and hurricane track predictions.
ESA coordinated Aeolus-2 development within the broader Copernicus program, Europe's integrated Earth observation initiative. The satellite joins a constellation of missions monitoring atmospheric composition, ocean surface conditions, and land cover. European meteorological agencies depend on continuous Aeolus data streams for operational forecasting systems.
Airbus will manufacture the spacecraft at facilities in Germany and France. The contract timeline indicates launch readiness within the next several years, ensuring continuity in wind