Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE) Launch Result
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
The Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE) was successfully launched on the Space X Falcon9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 07:20 on 29/05/2024 (Japan Standard Time), and nominally separated from the rocket approximately 10 minutes after liftoff.
At 08:14 (JST), the telemetry data indicating that the EarthCARE satellite had been injected into an orbit around the Earth was received at the ground station at Hartebeesthoek in South Africa.
JAXA would like to express our deep appreciation for the cooperation of all parties involved in the development of EarthCARE and preparing for the launch.
(Upcoming Announcement)
The announcement on the deployment of the Cloud Profiling Radar CPR*1 is scheduled for approximately 14:00 on 30/05/2024 (JST).
（*1）
CPR: Cloud Profiling Radar
CPR is one of four sensors onboard the EarthCARE satellite to measure the upward and downward flow velocity of cloud particles with Doppler technology while observing the vertical structure of cloud.
This will improve the accuracy of climate change projections, which will contribute to climate change response measurements.
Comments on Launch of Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE)
JAXA EarthCARE/CRP Project Team
Project Manager
Eichi TOMITA
The EarthCARE satellite was launched.
From now on, for full-scale operations, the European Space Agency (ESA) and JAXA will jointly proceed with the satellite critical phase, including deployment of CPR antenna main reflector and an initial functional check.
The EarthCARE is the first mission for Europe and Japan to jointly develop a single Earth observation satellite. Thanks to the continued engagement of various stakeholders, we were eventually able to achieve a successful launch. We would like to express our sincere gratitude once again all those who have been supporting this Mission.
We also thank those who have been waiting for the EarthCARE data. As the threat from climate change is growing, we believe the EarthCARE observation data will contribute to the advancement of climate models, leading more accurate projections of the future global environment, which enable us to take more appropriate actions. I hope that this Mission will play a part in protecting the lives of people in Japan and around the world, even as the future environment changes.
＜Announcement＞
Comments from The ESA Project Manager can be found on the ESA website.
In addition, the Japanese translation will be posted on the JAXA “EarthCARE/CPR” special website at a later date.