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ESA's New Mission to Revolutionize Weather Forecasting

9/25/2025

Summary

Illingworth's Earth Explorer

WIVERN, developed by Professor Anthony Illingworth of the University of Reading, was selected as the European Space Agency (ESA)’s 11th Earth Explorer Mission on 23 September 2025.
It will measure winds inside clouds with a 94 GHz Doppler radar.
The radar scans an 800-km area, improving forecasts for hurricanes.
It will also measure rain, snow, and ice for climate records.

Summary

NASA Launches Weather Satellites

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) launched three space weather satellites on September 24, 2025, including Artemis missions.
Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) will provide a 30-minute solar-storm warning for lunar missions.
Copernicus Sentinel Expansion missions ROSE-L and CHIME aim to improve soil and vegetation monitoring, with Bavaria campaigns gathering essential data.

History

Historical Context

The European Space Agency's WIVERN mission, set for 2025, builds on the collaborative spirit established by the International Space Station in 1998. This mission aims to enhance weather forecasting and climate monitoring, crucial for disaster preparedness, especially after Hurricane Katrina's $125 billion impact in 2005. These advancements underscore a global commitment to tackling climate change and improving safety in space exploration.

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Illingworth's Earth Explorer

WIVERN, developed by Professor Anthony Illingworth of the University of Reading, was selected as the European Space Agency (ESA)’s 11th Earth Explorer Mission on 23 September 2025.
It will measure winds inside clouds with a 94 GHz Doppler radar.
The radar scans an 800-km area, improving forecasts for hurricanes.
It will also measure rain, snow, and ice for climate records.

1 / 3