EarthCARE Pre-Launch Science and Cal/Val Workshop EarthCARE Status

Dirk Bernaerts
ESA ESTEC

13/11/2023
ESA UNCLASSIFIED – Releasable to the Public1

EarthCARE Status

1st May 2024
< 6 months

170 days2

EarthCARE - Mission
Largestuncertainty
inprojections of the futureclimate, to be addressed inorder to improve numerical
weather
prediction
andclimate modelling, comesfrom cloud, aerosol andSystematic
provisionofradiationinteractions.
vertical profiles of clouds &aerosols,
collated
withmeasurementsof solar
How do aerosols
and &emitted
thermalclouds,
heatradiation.
or coolthe Earth?

Direct verification of impact
of clouds & aerosols on
atmospheric heating rates &radiative fluxes.

3EarthCARE - Mission

6th Earth Explorer Mission
Largest, most complex Earth Explorer
Mission so far

EarthCARE is cooperation mission
between ESA and JAXA

4

EarthCARE – Space Segment
Cloud Profiling
Radar CPR (JAXA)High Power 94GHz
Doppler Radar
•

Cloud profiles, rainestimates, particle
vertical velocity

Multi Spectral Imager MSI(SSTL)• Context information• Creating 3D cloud-aerosol scenes• VIS, Near IR, SWIR Camera (VNS)• Thermal IR Camera (TIR)

Atmospheric LIDAR
ATLID (Airbus TLS)High spectral resolution
355nm LIDAR• Vertical profiles of aerosoland (thin) clouds

BroadBand Radiometer
BBR(TAS-UK)• Measurements of reflected solar andemitted thermal radiation5

EarthCARE Status – Space Segment
CP
R

PrefeasibilityPhase A

PreDevs

Proc

B1

B2

Phase C

B
B
R

M
SIA
T
L
I
DC
P
RM
SI

A
T
L
I
DCP
R

Phase D

Processes

Detailed
designWorkmanshipTechnologies
System,instrument
designconcept

Companies
Calamities
Resources• Earthquake/Tsunami• Pandemic• War• Launch failure6

EarthCARE Status – Space Segment
Overall : surprisingly smooth test campaign, fully according to schedule
Main Difficulties encountered:••••

Applicable launcher environment not clear
Absence of Launch vehicle adapter for separation/shock test
Cleanliness
Alignment cube

Sept-Nov 2022

7

EarthCARE Status – Space Segment
Deployment tests and Instrument Performance Checks

Main Difficulties encountered:•••

Solar Array Switches
Ground Support equipment/harness
Optical stimuli for ATLID reception chain

Jul 2022, Nov 2022, June 2023

Nov 2022

Nov 2022

8

EarthCARE Status – Space Segment
Thermal Vacuum/Thermal Balance, EMC, functional and instrument performance checks,
recently Launch Vehicle Adapter Separation/Shock test
Main Difficulties encountered:•••

Ground Support equipment
Active instruments operation
Combination of instrument constraints

Jan-Feb 2023

Apr 2023

June 2023

9

EarthCARE Status – Flight Segment

Satellite Envionrmental Test Campaign Completed
Last function and instrument performance checks ongoing (high confidence)
Qualification and Acceptance Review (QAR) completed with actions:•••

Resolution of open NCRs and alerts – ATLID Pump Unit (non-flight) NCR on Aeolus Follow-on and Capacitor alert
Successful execution of separation/shock test + post test verifications
Verification of launcher compatibility issues: sine vibration notch to protect propellant tank and horizontal transportof fueled spacecraft.
Close-out report at latest in January 2024.

Remaining: preparation for launch campaign/launchTransport (Antonov booked)
Launch Campaign (March – May 2024)

10

EarthCARE Status - Launcher
Soyuz from Kourou

Vega-C

Contract: Oct 2017
However: Feb/Mar 2022 ->Soyuz not available any
more from Kourou

Contract: Dec 2022 afterfeasibility and settlement
However: Dec 2022 launch
failure & April 2023 Fairing
design key point -> Jun2023 Council decistion

Falcon9
fromVandenberg(Cal, USA)
Contract: Sep2023

Launch Vehicle Adapter for
separation/shock test

Oct 2023>= Apr 2024

May 2024
11

EarthCARE - Launcher
Strategy followed: decouple as much as possible
from launcher issue. Find alternative launcher inparallel. OK first time, difficult second time.

✓✓✓✓Completeas planned
everything
we canImprovelaunchercompatibility
wherefeasible

Assesslauncher
compatibility

LauncherselectionMost difficult topics addressed for EarthCARE:• Soyuz-VegaC : non availability of launchvehicle adapter• Vega-C accommodation/fairing modifications• Environmental levels (shock/acoustic)• Falcon 9• Random vibration• Cleanliness for ATLID (and otherinstruments)
Remaining open points currently in work:• Sine vibration – propulsion tank notch• Final coupled load analysis (randomvibration spacer)• Horizontal transport of fueled spacecraft at
launcher roll-out• Final trajectory analysis• Purge system – cleanliness12EarthCARE Status – Ground Segment
FOS – Flight Operations Segment:• All System Validation Tests (SVTs) successfullycompleted, last one in June 2023
ESA – JAXA - Airbus• LEOP Stations procurement ongoing (was delayed
due to unclear launch site/launch date)• Simulations Campaign Q1 2024 to launch• LEOP and Commissioning preparations ongoing.

Main Difficulties encountered:
••
•
•

COVID
Complexity of operations/contingencies
Ageing Satellite Ground Support Equipment
Uncertainty on launch site, date and trajectory
13

EarthCARE Status – Ground Segment
ESA products

ATLID

BBRMSI

L1

L1

L1

L2A

L2AL2B

CPR

ATLID

BBR

MSI

CPR

L1

L2A

L2A

L2A

Wehr, T., Kubota, T., Tzeremes, G., Wallace, K., Nakatsuka, H.,Ohno, Y., Koopman, R., Rusli, S., Kikuchi, M., Eisinger, M., Tanaka,T., Taga, M., Deghaye, P., Tomita, E., and Bernaerts, D.: The
EarthCARE mission – science and system overview, Atmos. Meas.
Tech., 16, 3581–3608, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-3581-2023,2023.

L2A

L2B
14

EarthCARE Status – Ground Segment
PDGS - Processors:• Ground Segment Overall Validation (GSOV) tests completedESA-JAXA• Ground Segment Acceptance Review (GS-AR) ongoing• L1 and L2 processors: corrections and improvements, bothin frame of CARDINAL and satellite contract… stillcontinuing• PDGS final updates upcoming

Main Difficulties Encountered:• Test data sets
• Consistency simulator / test data / L1– L2 processors• Algorithms• Complexity
Cardinal Consortium

15

EarthCARE status - Validation
Geographical groundbased

Ground based Radar stations (42)Ground based Lidar stations (>100)

http://earthcare-val.esa.int
16

EarthCARE Status - Validation•••••••Scientific Validation Implementation plan update (V2) in preparation (L-4 months)
Webinars
Validation Rehearsal preparations (L-3 months)
Bi-lateral meetings with national funding agencies continue
Procurement actions ongoing at ESA with prioritization on critical activities
Coordination with national agencies (NASA, JAXA, …) and ATMO-ACCESS pilot
CEOS best practice protocol for validation of aerosol, cloud and precipitation profiles• Difficulties Encountered:• Major impact on preparations due to launcher/launch date delay/uncertainty• Several national funding agencies delayed or rejected proposals, or approved projects running outof funds, with consequence on funding at PI level. However, fast recovery visible• Rehearsal: Test data set generation17

EarthCARE – Outlook…
2022

2021

✓ CPR ✓
Int.
andTestSystem leveltests

✓✓

ATLID
dis/remount

CPR
retrofit✓CPR HPT-A manufacturing and testing
✓

2024

2023

✓ ✓Q ✓✓

SystemandEMC
test

Environmental
Test Campaign

AR

Separation/
shock test

LaunchCamp.

LEOP/Commissioning

E2✓ ATLID
TLE
repairMSI
modifications✓ SVT1✓ SVT1

CB

✓SVT2

✓

GS Elements Finalization

✓

✓SVT3

✓SVT3A

BGS
Integration✓

Pre-Launch Validation Activities

GSOVSIMGSAR
Work
shop

Cal/ValRehearsal/
prep.

Cal/ValCampaigns• Media Day:between mid-January and mid-February. Date TBC• Launch Campaign March – May 2024
• Launch May 2024, all parties targeting May 1st 2024
18

EarthCARE – Outlook…

• Preparations in full swing• Instrument Integrated Commissioning
Teams
Target data release
Level 1
Launch + 6 months

Level 2 A
Launch + 9 months

Level 2 B
Launch + 18 months
19

EarthCARE Status

20

EarthCARE Status✓✓
1st May 2024✓✓✓

< 6 months

170 days21

EarthCARE – Looking forward to…

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