Mission Science Division

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European Space Agency
European Space Agency logo.svg
Agency overview
AbbreviationESA
Type Space agency
Website www.esa.int/FutureEO

The Earth and Mission Science Division is a group of European Space Agency (ESA) staff mission scientists, contractors, research fellows, young graduates, trainees, and administrative staff working within the Climate Action, Sustainability and Science Department of the Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes. The Division is located at ESA's European Space Research and Technology Centre in Noordwijk, South Holland, The Netherlands.

Contents

Introduction

The Earth and Mission Science Division (MSD) supports the preparation, development and operations of research and operational missions within the Earth Observation Programmes Directorate. The Division is responsible for ensuring the application of scientific and other user community requirements in all phases of the development of Earth Observation missions, from precursor studies through to in-orbit satellite operations, and for ensuring coherence throughout with the objectives expressed in the mission requirements documents, including the management of mission-, instrument-specific, or ad-hoc advisory structures (as required). The Division organises and supports the activities of the Advisory Committee for Earth Observation (ACEO), including management and implementation of the scientific selection procedure for ESA research missions.

In support of the preparation of new mission concepts, or development and operations of each ESA approved Earth Observation mission, the Division conceives, initiates and conducts supporting scientific studies (in house and external) to ensure that the mission is "fit for purpose". In addition, the Division organises, coordinates and executes Campaigns for the purpose of acquiring airborne, balloon-borne, or in-situ data. Campaigns are specifically designed in support of technology or mission concept development, mission development, data simulation, and instrument calibration or product validation purposes. Campaign data are distributed publicly.

European Space Research and Technology Centre
AbbreviationESTEC
TypeIntragovernmental organisation
PurposeScience and Technology
Location
Parent organization
 European Space Agency
Website www.esa.int/SPECIALS/ESTEC/index.html

Mission Science Division Management

The Mission Science Division management team are:

Research Missions

ESA's Earth Observation research missions comprise Earth Explorers, Missions of Opportunity, and Scout missions.

The Earth and Mission Science Division has published several Calls for Proposals of Mission Ideas, and prepared and contributed to the approval of ten science-driven ESA Earth Explorers , with three candidates selected from proposals to the 2017 Call for core Earth Explorer mission ideas; and four candidates selected from the 2020 Call for Earth Explorer research mission ideas, namely:

Earth Explorer Core missions

The Call for proposals for Earth Explorer 10 (EE10) core mission ideas was released in September 2017. Three candidate mission ideas: Daedalus, Harmony and Hydroterra (formerly STEREOID:(Stereo Thermo-Optically Enhanced Radar for Earth, Ocean, Ice, and land Dynamics ) were selected for Phase 0 pre-feasibility study in September 2018. After completion of Phase 0 in February 2021, Harmony was selected to proceed to Phase A feasibility study. Upon successful conclusion of the feasibility study and presentation of the Harmony mission at ESA-ESTEC on 5 July 2022 at a User Consultation Meeting, Harmony was ultimately selected as Earth Explorer 10 in September 2022.

A Call for proposals for Earth Explorer 11 (EE-11) mission ideas was released on 25 May 2020. The Call closed in December 2020, with 15 proposals submitted via the EO Proposals Submission (EOPRO) Website | https://eopro.esa.int. Upon peer review of all proposals, the following four candidate ideas were selected for Phase 0 pre-feasibility study in June 2021:

On 10-11 October 2023 the Earth Explorer 11 User Consultation Meeting was held in Bucharest, Romania, after which two of the candidates, CAIRT and WIVERN, were selected in November 2023 by ESA Member States to proceed to Phase A.

A Call for proposals for Earth Explorer 12 (EE12) mission ideas is currently open (https://eopro.esa.int). Seventeen proposed mission ideas were received by the deadline of 29 September, 2023 and evaluated by independent scientific peer reviewers, and ESA technical and programmatic review panels. Four EE12 candidates were selected for Phase 0 pre-feasibility study in April 2024:

Earth Explorer Opportunity missions

Earth Explorer Fast Track missions

Missions of Opportunity

Operational Missions

The Division currently supports the development of six series of approved Copernicus Programme Sentinel Missions, six Copernicus Expansion missions, and four Copernicus Next Generation missions as part of the Space Component of the joint EC/ESA Copernicus initiative. It has supported the development of MetOp, and is currently active in supporting the preparation of MetOp Second Generation (MetOp-SG). Recently, the TRUTHS mission was approved for preparatory phase activities as a potential Earth Watch mission.

Copernicus Space Component missions

In preparation for the second-generation of Copernicus (Copernicus2.0), six Sentinel "Expansion" missions are being developed by ESA to address EU Policy and gaps in user needs, and to increase the current capabilities of the Copernicus Space Component:

In preparation for Copernicus2.0, design concepts for four next generation Sentinels (Sentinel-NG) are being prepared by ESA within its FutureEO Programme, to deliver enhanced continuity to the first generation Sentinel satellites:

Meteorological Satellite Series

The Division also presently supports the development of several instruments out of the 10 instrument payload of the approved series of second generation MetOp satellites. The MetOp-SG series is developed in cooperation with EUMETSAT, as part of the EUMETSAT Polar System – Second Generation initiative. EPS-SG represents Europe's contribution to the future Joint Polar System (JPS).

Earth Watch

The Division is currently supporting the feasibility phase of the following potential future mission:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EUMETSAT</span> European intergovernmental organisation

The European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) is an intergovernmental organisation created through an international convention agreed by a current total of 30 European Member States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar Orbiter</span> European space-based solar observatory

The Solar Orbiter (SolO) is a Sun-observing probe developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) with a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) contribution. Solar Orbiter, designed to obtain detailed measurements of the inner heliosphere and the nascent solar wind, will also perform close observations of the polar regions of the Sun which is difficult to do from Earth. These observations are important in investigating how the Sun creates and controls its heliosphere.

The FLuorescence EXplorer (FLEX) is a planned mission by the European Space Agency to launch a satellite to monitor the global steady-state chlorophyll fluorescence in terrestrial vegetation. FLEX was selected for funding on 19 November 2015 and will be launched on a Vega C rocket from Guiana Space Centre in mid-2026.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Copernicus Programme</span> Programme of the European Commission

Copernicus is the Earth observation component of the European Union Space Programme, managed by the European Commission and implemented in partnership with the EU Member States, the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), the Joint Research Centre (JRC), the European Environment Agency (EEA), the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), Frontex, SatCen and Mercator Océan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interferometric synthetic-aperture radar</span> Geodesy and remote sensing technique

Interferometric synthetic aperture radar, abbreviated InSAR, is a radar technique used in geodesy and remote sensing. This geodetic method uses two or more synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images to generate maps of surface deformation or digital elevation, using differences in the phase of the waves returning to the satellite or aircraft. The technique can potentially measure millimetre-scale changes in deformation over spans of days to years. It has applications for geophysical monitoring of natural hazards, for example earthquakes, volcanoes and landslides, and in structural engineering, in particular monitoring of subsidence and structural stability.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Romanian Space Agency</span> Space agency; public institution with extrabudgetary funding

The Romanian Space Agency is a public institution that coordinates Romania's national space technology. ROSA, established in 1991, is subordinate to the Romanian Ministry of Education.

The European Union Space Programme is an EU funding programme established in 2021 along with its managing agency, the European Union Agency for the Space Programme, in order to implement the pre-existing European Space Policy established on 22 May 2007 when a joint and concomitant meeting at the ministerial level of the Council of the European Union and the Council of the European Space Agency, known collectively as the European Space Council, adopted a Resolution on the European Space Policy. The policy had been jointly drafted by the European Commission and the Director General of the European Space Agency. This was the first common political framework for space activities established by the European Union (EU).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sentinel-1</span> Earth observation satellite

Sentinel-1 is the first of the Copernicus Programme satellite constellations conducted by the European Space Agency. The mission was originally composed of a constellation of two satellites, Sentinel-1A and Sentinel-1B, which shared the same orbital plane. Two more satellites, Sentinel-1C and Sentinel-1D are in development. Sentinel-1B was retired following a power supply issue on December 23, 2021, leaving Sentinel-1A the only satellite of the constellation currently operating. Sentinel-1C is currently planned to launch in the final quarter of 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sentinel-2</span> Earth observation mission

Sentinel-2 is an Earth observation mission from the Copernicus Programme that acquires optical imagery at high spatial resolution over land and coastal waters. The mission's Sentinel-2A and Sentinel-2B satellites are to be joined in orbit in 2024 by a third, Sentinel-2C, and in the future by Sentinel-2D, eventually replacing the A and B satellites, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sentinel-3</span> Earth observation satellite series

Sentinel-3 is an Earth observation heavy satellite series developed by the European Space Agency as part of the Copernicus Programme. As of 2024, it consists of 2 satellites: Sentinel-3A and Sentinel-3B. After initial commissioning, each satellite was handed over to EUMETSAT for the routine operations phase of the mission. Two recurrent satellites, Sentinel-3C and Sentinel-3D, will follow in approximately 2025 and 2028 respectively to ensure continuity of the Sentinel-3 mission.

The Living Planet Programme (LPP) is a programme within the European Space Agency which is managed by the Earth Observation Programmes Directorate. LPP consists of two classes of Earth observation missions including research missions known as Earth Explorers, and the Earth Watch class of missions whose objective is to develop support operational applications such as numerical weather forecasting or resource management.

The Advanced Along Track Scanning Radiometer (AATSR) is one of the Announcement of Opportunity (AO) instruments on board the European Space Agency (ESA)'s Envisat satellite.

The European Data Relay System (EDRS) system is a European constellation of GEO satellites that relay information and data between satellites, spacecraft, UAVs, and ground stations. The first components were launched in 2016 and 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SARAL</span> Indian Earth observation satellite

SARAL is a cooperative altimetry technology mission of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES). SARAL performs altimetric measurements designed to study ocean circulation and sea surface elevation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sentinel-1A</span> European radar imaging satellite

Sentinel-1A is a European radar imaging satellite launched in 2014. It is the first Sentinel-1 satellite launched as part of the European Union's Copernicus programme. The satellite carries a C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar which will provide images in all light and weather conditions. It analyzes many phenomena occurring on Earth, from detecting and tracking oil spills and mapping sea ice to monitoring movement in land surfaces and mapping changes in the way land is used.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sentinel-5 Precursor</span> Earth observation satellite

Sentinel-5 Precursor (Sentinel-5P) is an Earth observation satellite developed by ESA as part of the Copernicus Programme to close the gap in continuity of observations between Envisat and Sentinel-5. It was launched in October 2017, and has a design life of 7 years. The TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (Tropomi) provides the most detailed methane emissions monitoring available.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sentinel-4</span> Earth observation satellite

Sentinel-4 is a European Earth observation mission under development to support the European Union Copernicus Programme. It will focus on monitoring of trace gas concentrations and aerosols in the atmosphere to support operational services covering air-quality near-real time applications, air-quality protocol monitoring, and climate protocol monitoring. The specific objective of Sentinel-4 is to support this with a high revisit time over Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sentinel-2B</span> European optical imaging satellite

Sentinel-2B is a European optical imaging satellite that was launched on 7 March 2017. It is the second Sentinel-2 satellite launched as part of the European Space Agency's Copernicus Programme, and with its orbit phased 180° against its sister satellite, Sentinel-2A. The satellite carries a wide swath high-resolution multispectral imager with 13 spectral bands. It provides information for agriculture and forestry, among other services, allowing for prediction of crop yields.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich</span> Earth observation satellite

The Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich (S6MF) or Sentinel-6A is a radar altimeter satellite developed in partnership between several European and American organizations. It is part of the Jason satellite series and is named after Michael Freilich. S6MF includes synthetic-aperture radar altimetry techniques to improve ocean topography measurements, in addition to rivers and lakes. The spacecraft entered service in mid 2021 and is expected to operate for 5.5 years.

<i>Earth Science Decadal Survey</i> Decadal science surveys

The Earth Science Decadal Survey is a publication of the United States National Research Council that identifies key research priorities in the field of Earth Sciences with a focus on remote sensing. It is written and released at the request of three United States government agencies: the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The survey is produced by the Committee on the Decadal Survey for Earth Science and Applications from Space (ESAS) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) Space Studies Board, Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences. Agencies like NASA use the recommendations from the decadal survey to prioritize funding for specific types of scientific research projects.

References

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  15. ↑ Koetz, Benjamin; Bastiaanssen, Wim; Berger, Michael; Defourney, Pierre; Del Bello, Umberto; Drusch, Matthias; Drinkwater, Mark; Duca, Ricardo; Fernandez, Valerie; Ghent, Darren; Guzinski, Radoslaw (July 2018). "High Spatio- Temporal Resolution Land Surface Temperature Mission - a Copernicus Candidate Mission in Support of Agricultural Monitoring". IGARSS 2018 - 2018 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium. pp. 8160–8162. doi:10.1109/IGARSS.2018.8517433. ISBN   978-1-5386-7150-4. S2CID   53231965.
  16. ↑ Gerhards, Max; Schlerf, Martin; Mallick, Kaniska; Udelhoven, Thomas (24 May 2019). "Challenges and Future Perspectives of Multi-/Hyperspectral Thermal Infrared Remote Sensing for Crop Water-Stress Detection: A Review". Remote Sensing . 11 (10): 1240. Bibcode:2019RemS...11.1240G. doi: 10.3390/rs11101240 . Retrieved 5 July 2020.
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  18. ↑ Celesti, Marco (17 July 2022). "The Copernicus Hyperspectral Imaging Mission for the Environment (Chime): Status and Planning". IGARSS 2022 - 2022 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium. pp. 5011–5014. doi:10.1109/IGARSS46834.2022.9883592. ISBN   978-1-6654-2792-0. S2CID   252590036 – via IEEE GRSS.
  19. ↑ Kilic, Lise; Prigent, Catherine; Aires, Filipe; Boutin, Jacqueline; Heygster, Georg; Tonboe, Rasmus T.; Roquet, Hervé; Jimenez, Carlos; Donlon, Craig (2018). "Expected Performances of the Copernicus Imaging Microwave Radiometer (CIMR) for an All-Weather and High Spatial Resolution Estimation of Ocean and Sea Ice Parameters". Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans. 123 (10): 7564–7580. Bibcode:2018JGRC..123.7564K. doi: 10.1029/2018JC014408 . ISSN   2169-9291.
  20. ↑ Pierdicca, Nazzareno; Davidson, Malcolm; Chini, Marco; Dierking, Wolfgang; Djavidnia, Samuel; Haarpaintner, Joerg; Hajduch, Guillaume; Laurin, Gaia V.; Lavalle, Marco; López-Martínez, Carlos; Nagler, Thomas (2019-10-18). "The Copernicus L-band SAR mission ROSE-L (Radar Observing System for Europe) (Conference Presentation)". In Notarnicola, Claudia; Pierdicca, Nazzareno; Bovenga, Fabio; Santi, Emanuele (eds.). Active and Passive Microwave Remote Sensing for Environmental Monitoring III. Vol. 11154. pp. 111540E. doi:10.1117/12.2534743. ISBN   9781510630116. S2CID   210311425.
  21. ↑ "TRUTHS: a new potential ESA Earth Watch mission". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2020-08-05.

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