EarthCARE (Earth Cloud, Aerosol and Radiation Explorer)

EarthCARE (Earth Cloud, Aerosol and Radiation Explorer) is a joint ESA and JAXA Earth observation mission operating in a 393 km sun-synchronous low Earth orbit at 97.05 degrees inclination. The satellite launched on 28 May 2024.^[1] EarthCARE carries four co-registered instruments: ATLID, a UV high-spectral-resolution lidar for aerosol and cloud profiling; a Cloud Profiling Radar contributed by JAXA; a Multi-Spectral Imager; and a Broad-Band Radiometer measuring top-of-atmosphere radiances and fluxes.^[2][1]

The mission objective is to improve the representation of cloud and aerosol processes in global climate and weather prediction models by providing simultaneous, vertically resolved measurements of clouds, aerosols, and radiation in a single overpass.^[1] EarthCARE is part of ESA's Living Planet Programme and represents a two-decade development effort between ESA and JAXA.^[2]