ADM-Aeolus (Atmospheric Dynamics Mission)

ADM-Aeolus (Atmospheric Dynamics Mission Aeolus) was an ESA Earth Explorer mission that operated in a 320 km sun-synchronous low Earth orbit. The mission carried ALADIN, which ESA describes as the first spaceborne high-spectral-resolution Doppler wind lidar.^[1] ALADIN measured wind profiles through the troposphere and lower stratosphere by detecting backscatter from molecules and aerosol particles.^[1] Aeolus provided global wind profile observations directly from space, filling a measurement gap identified as a priority by the global weather forecasting community.^[2]

The satellite launched on 22 August 2018 and conducted nominal science operations until 30 April 2023, when ESA completed the mission.^[1] Following mission end, the spacecraft was deorbited in a controlled reentry on 28 July 2023.^[2] Aeolus demonstrated the technical feasibility of spaceborne Doppler wind lidar and contributed wind observations that were assimilated into numerical weather prediction models during its operational period.