# TARANIS

> CNES Earth observation satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q3515596](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3515596)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TARANIS)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/taranis

## Summary
TARANIS was a French Earth observation satellite developed by the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES) to study atmospheric phenomena such as lightning and sprites. Launched in 2020 aboard a Vega rocket, the satellite was destroyed shortly after liftoff due to a launch vehicle failure. Despite its brief operational lifespan, TARANIS was designed to advance scientific understanding of Earth's atmospheric processes.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: November 17, 2020, at 01:52:20 UTC.
- **Destruction Date**: November 17, 2020 (due to Vega launch vehicle failure).
- **Mass**: 175 kg.
- **Dimensions**: 98 cm (length) × 107 cm (width) × 115 cm (height).
- **Manufacturer/Operator**: CNES (French space agency).
- **Mission Objective**: To observe and analyze radiation from lightning and sprites in Earth's atmosphere.
- **Spacecraft Bus**: Myriade.
- **Power Source**: Photovoltaic system with 200 W capacity.

## FAQs
### Q: What happened to the TARANIS satellite?
A: TARANIS was destroyed during its launch on November 17, 2020, after the Vega rocket's AVUM upper stage failed, resulting in the loss of the satellite.

### Q: What was the purpose of the TARANIS mission?
A: The satellite aimed to study electromagnetic phenomena in Earth's atmosphere, particularly radiation emitted by lightning and sprites, to improve understanding of these events.

### Q: Who built and operated TARANIS?
A: TARANIS was designed, manufactured, and operated by the French space agency CNES.

## Why It Matters
TARANIS represented a focused effort to investigate poorly understood atmospheric phenomena, such as sprites—brief, luminous flashes occurring above thunderstorms. By studying these events, scientists hoped to gain insights into Earth's climate system and the coupling between the atmosphere and space environment. Although the mission failed during launch, its development highlighted the importance of small satellites in targeted scientific research and demonstrated CNES's capability in designing specialized Earth observation missions. The loss of TARANIS underscored the risks of space exploration while reinforcing the need for continued investment in understanding Earth's dynamic systems.

## Notable For
- **Unique Mission Focus**: First satellite dedicated to observing sprites and lightning-induced radiation.
- **Small Satellite Design**: Utilized the compact Myriade spacecraft bus, optimized for cost-effective missions.
- **Launch Failure Impact**: Part of the Vega flight VV17, whose failure led to investigations into the reliability of the Vega launch vehicle.
- **International Collaboration**: Carried instruments developed by French and international research teams.

## Body
### Mission Objective
TARANIS (Tool for the Analysis of Radiation from Lightning and Sprites) aimed to study transient luminous events (TLEs) such as sprites, blue jets, and elves. These phenomena occur above thunderstorms and influence atmospheric chemistry and Earth's radiation balance.

### Technical Specifications
- **Mass**: 175 kg.
- **Dimensions**: 98 cm × 107 cm × 115 cm.
- **Power**: 200 W photovoltaic system.
- **Instruments**: Included optical and radio sensors to detect electromagnetic emissions from lightning and sprites.

### Launch and Failure
- **Launch Vehicle**: Vega (flight VV17), operated by Arianespace.
- **Launch Site**: Ensemble de Lancement Vega, Guiana Space Centre.
- **Failure Cause**: Anomaly in the AVUM upper stage approximately 2 minutes after liftoff, leading to the destruction of TARANIS and the SEOSAT-Ingenio satellite.

### Legacy
Despite the mission's failure, TARANIS contributed to advancements in small satellite technology and highlighted the scientific value of studying atmospheric phenomena. Its planned 4-year mission would have provided critical data for climate and weather research.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Satellite",
  "name": "TARANIS",
  "description": "CNES Earth observation satellite designed to study atmospheric phenomena such as lightning and sprites.",
  "url": "https://taranis.cnes.fr/",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q48785039",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TARANIS"
  ],
  "manufacturer": "CNES",
  "operator": "CNES",
  "launchDate": "2020-11-17",
  "mass": {
    "@type": "QuantitativeValue",
    "unitText": "kg",
    "value": 175
  },
  "height": {
    "@type": "QuantitativeValue",
    "unitText": "cm",
    "value": 115
  },
  "width": {
    "@type": "QuantitativeValue",
    "unitText": "cm",
    "value": 107
  },
  "depth": {
    "@type": "QuantitativeValue",
    "unitText": "cm",
    "value": 98
  },
  "causeOfDestruction": "Launch failure (AVUM upper stage anomaly)"
}

## References

1. [Source](https://www.arianespace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/VV17-launchkit-EN2.pdf)
2. [Source](https://news.satnews.com/2020/11/17/mission-failure-arianespaces-vega-vv17-seosat-ingenio-taranis-lost/)
3. [Source](https://taranis.cnes.fr/en/TARANIS/GP_satellite.htm)
4. [Source](https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2020/11/arianespace-vega-seosat-taranis/)
5. [Source](https://directory.eoportal.org/web/eoportal/satellite-missions/t/taranis)