Challenges and achievements of ESA´s Aeolus mission

Kurzfassung

Soon after its launch in August 2018, the spaceborne wind lidar ALADIN (Atmospheric LAser Doppler INstrument) onboard ESA’s Earth Explorer satellite Aeolus demonstrated to provide atmospheric wind profiles on a global scale. Being the first ever Doppler Wind Lidar (DWL) instrument in space, ALADIN contributed to the improvement in numerical weather prediction (NWP) by measuring one component of the horizontal wind vector until the end of its operational mission phase on 30 April 2023. Following an instrument test period until 5 July 2023, where a new record in ultraviolet (UV) laser energy of 182 mJ over 33 h was achieved, the Aeolus satellite re-entered into the atmosphere on 28 July 2023. The Aeolus mission fully achieved its mission objectives including the unprecedented demonstration of the direct-detection DWL technology and high-power laser operation in space in the UV spectral region for more than 4 ½ years – exceeding the planned mission lifetime of 3 years and 3 months. Aeolus wind products clearly demonstrated positive impact on weather forecasts using several NWP models. Since early 2020, and thus only 1 ½ years after launch, the Aeolus wind products were used in operation at ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts) and at various NWP centres worldwide. These achievements of the Aeolus mission were possible thanks to the critical contributions from the Aeolus Data Innovation and Science Cluster (DISC) and paved the way for an operational follow-on wind lidar mission by ESA and EUMETSAT.