# ADM-Aeolus

> ESA wind-measuring satellite that reentered in 2023

**Wikidata**: [Q290390](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q290390)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADM-Aeolus)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/adm-aeolus

## Summary
ADM-Aeolus was an ESA Earth observation satellite launched in 2018 to measure global wind profiles for weather forecasting and climate research. It was the first satellite to provide direct wind measurements from space and reentered Earth's atmosphere in July 2023 after completing its mission.

## Key Facts
- Launched on August 22, 2018, at 21:20:09 UTC from Ensemble de Lancement Vega
- Operated by the European Space Agency as part of the Living Planet Programme (Earth Explorer 4)
- Mass: 1,360 kg (launch weight) / 1,094 kg (dry weight)
- Equipped with a lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) instrument for wind measurement
- Operated in a Sun-synchronous orbit at 321.9-323.6 km altitude with 96.7° inclination
- Orbital period: 90.8 minutes
- Retired on April 30, 2023, and reentered atmosphere on July 28, 2023, at 18:35 UTC
- Carried scientific instrument: lidar (Light Detection and Ranging)

### FAQs

### Q: What was the main purpose of ADM-Aeolus?
A: ADM-Aeolus was designed to measure global wind profiles from space using lidar technology, providing data to improve weather forecasting and climate research. It was the first satellite to deliver direct wind measurements globally.

### Q: When and how did ADM-Aeolus end its mission?
A: The satellite completed its nominal mission on April 30, 2023, and was deliberately deorbited. It reentered Earth's atmosphere on July 28, 2023, at 18:35 UTC, setting a standard for safe satellite reentry.

### Q: What made ADM-Aeolus unique among Earth observation satellites?
A: ADM-Aeolus was unique as the first satellite to provide direct wind measurements from space using lidar technology. It operated in a relatively low orbit (321.9-323.6 km) and was part of ESA's Living Planet Programme.

## Why It Matters
ADM-Aeolus represented a breakthrough in Earth observation by providing the first direct global measurements of wind profiles from space. This data was crucial for improving numerical weather prediction models, which rely heavily on accurate wind information to forecast weather patterns. The satellite's lidar instrument could measure wind speeds in the troposphere and lower stratosphere, areas that are difficult to observe with traditional methods like weather balloons or aircraft. By filling this critical data gap, ADM-Aeolus helped meteorologists produce more accurate weather forecasts, which has significant implications for disaster preparedness, agriculture, aviation, and climate research. The mission also demonstrated ESA's commitment to advancing Earth observation capabilities and understanding our planet's complex atmospheric systems. Its successful deorbit in 2023 also set an important precedent for responsible space debris management, showing how satellites can be safely removed from orbit at the end of their operational life.

## Notable For
- First satellite to provide direct global wind measurements from space using lidar technology
- Operated in an unusually low orbit (321.9-323.6 km) for an Earth observation satellite
- Successfully demonstrated controlled reentry, setting standards for space debris mitigation
- Part of ESA's Living Planet Programme as Earth Explorer 4
- Carried the Aladin instrument, the first European lidar for wind measurements in space

## Body
### Mission Overview
ADM-Aeolus was an Earth observation satellite developed by the European Space Agency to measure global wind profiles. Launched on August 22, 2018, aboard a Vega rocket (VV-12 mission) from Kourou, French Guiana, the satellite operated as part of ESA's Living Planet Programme. The mission was named after Aeolus, the keeper of the winds in Greek mythology.

### Technical Specifications
The satellite had a launch mass of 1,360 kg and a dry mass of 1,094 kg. It was powered by a spacecraft solar array using gallium arsenide cells (2,400 W power generation) and a lithium-ion battery (84 Ah capacity). ADM-Aeolus operated in a Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 321.9-323.6 km with an orbital inclination of 96.7°, completing one orbit every 90.8 minutes.

### Scientific Instrument
The core payload was the Atmospheric Laser Doppler Instrument (ALADIN), a direct-detection lidar system that used ultraviolet laser pulses to measure wind velocities in the troposphere and lower stratosphere. This was the first European lidar system deployed for wind measurements in space, capable of providing data on wind profiles up to 30 km altitude.

### Operational History
After launch, ADM-Aeolus began providing wind data to meteorological services worldwide. The satellite experienced a notable collision avoidance maneuver on September 2, 2019, when it had to move to avoid a potential collision with a Starlink satellite. The nominal mission concluded on April 30, 2023, after which ESA initiated a controlled deorbit sequence. The satellite reentered Earth's atmosphere on July 28, 2023, at 18:35 UTC, demonstrating a responsible approach to space debris mitigation.

### Legacy and Impact
ADM-Aeolus significantly advanced weather forecasting capabilities by providing the first direct global wind measurements from space. The data collected helped improve numerical weather prediction models, leading to more accurate weather forecasts. The mission also paved the way for future Earth Explorer missions and demonstrated the feasibility of using lidar technology for atmospheric measurements from space. Its successful controlled reentry set an important precedent for end-of-life disposal of satellites, contributing to sustainable space operations.

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## References

1. [Source](https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Operations/Aeolus_operations)
2. [Source](https://blogs.esa.int/rocketscience/2023/07/24/aeolus-reentry-live/)
3. [Source](https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FutureEO/Aeolus/Facts_and_figures)
4. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/adm-aeolus.htm)
5. Jonathan's Space Report
6. [Source](https://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/EarthObservation/aeolus_brochure_web.pdf)
7. [Source](https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FutureEO/Aeolus/Aeolus_satellite)
8. [Source](https://www.space-track.org/basicspacedata/query/class/tip/NORAD_CAT_ID/43600/orderby/ID%20DESC/format/html/emptyresult/show)
9. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
10. [Source](https://www.heidi.news/articles/face-a-l-inaction-de-spacex-l-esa-a-du-deplacer-un-satellite-pour-eviter-une-collision-avec-starlink)
11. [Source](https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1168534065118679042)
12. [Source](https://news.satnews.com/2023/05/10/esas-wind-mission-satellite-aeolus-to-die-fiery-death-setting-standard-for-safe-reentry/)
13. [Source](https://www.eumetsat.int/end-nominal-aeolus-mission-operations)
14. [Source](https://www.arianespace.com/mission/vega-flight-vv12/)