EPS Sterna
Microsatellites to fill a gap in weather observations.
Have a good flight AWS!
Today is the last chance to see the Arctic Weather Satellite in Europe before it is launched
Cristian Bank and Paul Counet both waved good-bye to the Arctic Weather Satellite today at OHB-Sweden in Stockholm, during its last appearance to the media on European soil.
Last Updated
04 April 2024
Published on
04 April 2024
Although EUMETSAT is not directly involved in developing and operating this satellite, it acts as a precursor to the potential future EUMETSAT Polar System (EPS)-Sterna mission.
If approved by its member states in the summer 2025, EUMETSAT would develop an operational fleet of six similar small microwave sounder satellites, to be deployed in a constellation on three orbital planes. The constellation would be launched over a 13-year period, starting in 2029. To ensure that six satellites are constantly observing the Earth, a total of 20 spacecrafts will be procured and launched sequentially.
ESA’s Arctic Weather Satellite undergoing final tests at OHB’s facilities in Stockholm, Sweden. The satellite is in its very last stages of being checked and readied for shipment to the Vandenberg launch site in California in the US.
To assess the strategic value of this investment, EUMETSAT ran a thorough study on the socio-economic benefits of the potential future EPS-Sterna mission. It concluded that, based on today’s economic conditions, the cost-benefit ratio would be at 51:1 for the entire EPS-Sterna constellation system (including space segment, launchers, ground segment and operations), over its 13 years of planned operations. Such a high return on investment demonstrates the value of such a new space approach and the data it would produce.
The EPS-Sterna constellation would enable a noticeable improvement in numerical weather prediction for all the EUMETSAT member states and worldwide, as well as an improvement of nowcasting at higher latitudes. The constellation would also support the accuracy of regional forecasts by delivering data in near-real time. It would strengthen Europe’s position as a leader towards the realisation of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO)’s Vision 2024 for its Global Observing System, and the United Nations’ objective to provide early warnings for all.
Main image
Credits: ESA - P. Sebirot
Caption: Acoustic and vibration testing of ESA's Arctic Weather Satellite (AWS) at IABG in Ottobrunn, Germany on 13 February 2024.