| Issue |
EPJ Web Conf.
Volume 362, 2026
31st International Laser Radar Conference (ILRC 31) Held Together with the 22nd Coherent Laser Radar Conference (CLRC 22)
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Article Number | 08009 | |
| Number of page(s) | 4 | |
| Section | Current and Future Space Lidar Missions | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202636208009 | |
| Published online | 09 April 2026 | |
https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202636208009
Aeolus-2: Status of pre-development activities
European Space Agency Keplerlaan 1, 2200 AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands
Published online: 9 April 2026
Abstract
The European Space Agency's (ESA) Aeolus satellite was launched on 22 August 2018 from Centre Spatial Guyanais in Kourou, French Guyana. The Atmospheric LAser Doppler Instrument (ALADIN), the sole payload on Aeolus, was the world's first spaceborne Doppler Wind Lidar (DWL), providing profiles of horizontal line-of-sight (HLOS) wind retrievals to be used as Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) model input to improve short to medium range forecasts [1]. Aeolus data has been extensively analysed by a number of meteorological centres and found to have a positive impact on NWP forecasts, particularly in the tropics and polar regions [2]. These positive results, along with the successful in-orbit demonstration of the measurement concept and associated technologies utilized on Aeolus, resulted in a statement of interest from EUMETSAT in a future operational DWL mission in the 2030 to mid-2040s timeframe and a request to ESA to carry out the necessary pre-development activities for such a mission.
© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2026
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Current usage metrics show cumulative count of Article Views (full-text article views including HTML views, PDF and ePub downloads, according to the available data) and Abstracts Views on Vision4Press platform.
Data correspond to usage on the plateform after 2015. The current usage metrics is available 48-96 hours after online publication and is updated daily on week days.
Initial download of the metrics may take a while.