CEOS EO HANDBOOK – AGENCY SUMMARY - ESA
Agency Name Full European Space Agency CEOS Member yes
Agency Country Europe Agency Website http://www.esa.int
Agency Mission Timeline click here
Agency Series
SeriesMissions
CO2MSentinel CO2M-A, Sentinel CO2M-B, Sentinel CO2M-C
EPSMetop-A, Metop-B, Metop-C
ERSERS-1, ERS-2
MeteosatMeteosat-1, Meteosat-2, Meteosat-3, Meteosat-4, Meteosat-5, Meteosat-6, Meteosat-7, Meteosat-8, Meteosat-9, Meteosat-10, Meteosat-11
METOP-SG AMETOP-SG A1, METOP-SG A2, METOP-SG A3
METOP-SG BMETOP-SG B1, METOP-SG B2, METOP-SG B3
MTG-I (imaging)MTG-I1 (imaging), MTG-I2 (imaging), MTG-I3 (imaging), MTG-I4 (imaging)
MTG-S (sounding)MTG-S1 (sounding), MTG-S2 (sounding)
Sentinel-1Sentinel-1 A, Sentinel-1 B, Sentinel-1 C, Sentinel-1 D, S1NG-A, S1NG-B
Sentinel-2Sentinel-2 A, Sentinel-2 B, Sentinel-2 C, Sentinel-2 D, S2NG-A, S2NG-B
Sentinel-3Sentinel-3 A, Sentinel-3 B, Sentinel-3 C, Sentinel-3 D, S3NGO-A, S3NGO-B, S3NGT-A, S3NGT-B
Sentinel-4Sentinel-4 A, Sentinel-4 B
Sentinel-5Sentinel-5 A, Sentinel-5 B, Sentinel-5 C
Sentinel-6Sentinel-6 A Michael Freilich, Sentinel-6 B
Current Missions
timeline
MissionLaunchEOL Instrument(s)
Odin 20 Feb 2001 Dec 2024 OSIRIS, SMR
SCISAT-1 12 Aug 2003 Mar 2026 ACE-FTS, MAESTRO
Meteosat-9 22 Dec 2005 Apr 2027 GERB, MSG Comms, SEVIRI
SMOS 02 Nov 2009 Dec 2025 MIRAS (SMOS)
CryoSat-2 08 Apr 2010 Dec 2025 DGXX, Laser Reflectors (ESA), SIRAL
Meteosat-10 05 Jul 2012 Sep 2030 GERB, MSG Comms, SEVIRI
Metop-B 17 Sep 2012 Nov 2027 A-DCS3, AMSU-A, ASCAT, AVHRR/3, GOME-2, GRAS, HIRS/4, IASI, MHS, S&R (NOAA), SEM (POES)
ePOP on CASSIOPE 29 Sep 2013 Dec 2025 CER, FAI, GAP, IRM, MGF, NMS, RRI, SEI
Swarm 22 Nov 2013 Dec 2025 ACC, ASM, EFI, GPS Receiver (Swarm), Laser Reflectors (ESA), STR, VFM
Sentinel-1 A 03 Apr 2014 Apr 2025 C-Band SAR
Sentinel-2 A 23 Jun 2015 Jul 2025 MSI (Sentinel-2)
Meteosat-11 15 Jul 2015 Dec 2033 GERB, MSG Comms, SEVIRI
Sentinel-3 A 16 Feb 2016 Mar 2026 DGXX-S, OLCI, SLSTR, SRAL
Sentinel-2 B 06 Mar 2017 Apr 2027 MSI (Sentinel-2)
Sentinel-5 precursor 13 Oct 2017 Sep 2027 TROPOMI
Sentinel-3 B 25 Apr 2018 Aug 2028 DGXX-S, OLCI, SLSTR, SRAL
Metop-C 07 Nov 2018 Dec 2027 A-DCS3, AMSU-A, ASCAT, AVHRR/3, GOME-2, GRAS, IASI, MHS, SEM (POES)
Sentinel-6 A Michael Freilich 21 Nov 2020 Dec 2027 AMR-C, DGXX-S, GNSS POD Receiver, GNSS-RO Receiver, LRA (Sentinel-6), Poseidon-4 Altimeter
MTG-I1 (imaging) 13 Dec 2022 May 2033 FCI, LI
EarthCARE 28 May 2024 31 May 2027 ATLID, BBR (EarthCARE), CPR (EarthCARE), MSI (EarthCARE)
AWS 16 Aug 2024 15 Aug 2029 AWS Instrument
Sentinel-2 C 05 Sep 2024 05 Sep 2034 MSI (Sentinel-2)
Approved Missions
timeline
MissionLaunchEOL Instrument(s)
Sentinel-1 C Dec 2024 Apr 2034 AIS, C-Band SAR
Biomass Mar 2025 Oct 2030 P-Band SAR
ALTIUS May 2025 May 2028 ALTIUS Instrument
HydroGNSS May 2025 Dec 2031 SGR-ReSI-Z
Sentinel-1 D Jun 2025 Jun 2035 AIS, C-Band SAR
Sentinel-4 A Jun 2025 Jan 2036 UVN (Sentinel-4)
MTG-S1 (sounding) Jun 2025 Jan 2036 IRS, UVN (Sentinel-4)
METOP-SG A1 Oct 2025 Mar 2034 3MI, IASI-NG, METimage, MWS, RO, UVNS (Sentinel-5)
Sentinel-5 A Oct 2025 Mar 2034 UVNS (Sentinel-5)
Sentinel-6 B Dec 2025 Dec 2032 AMR-C, DGXX-S, DORIS-NG, GNSS POD Receiver, GNSS-RO Receiver, LRA (Sentinel-6), Poseidon-4 Altimeter
FLEX Mar 2026 Sep 2029 FLORIS
Sentinel-3 C Jun 2026 Jun 2036 DGXX-S, OLCI, SLSTR, SRAL
METOP-SG B1 Jul 2026 Jan 2035 A-DCS4, ICI, MWI, RO, SCA
MTG-I2 (imaging) Sep 2026 Mar 2037 FCI, LI
Sentinel CO2M-B Mar 2027 Sep 2034 CLIM, CO2I, MAP
FORUM Aug 2027 Dec 2032 FEI, Fourier Transform Spectrometer
Sentinel CO2M-A Nov 2027 Apr 2034 CLIM, CO2I, MAP
Sentinel-2 D Sep 2028 Sep 2038 MSI (Sentinel-2)
Sentinel CRISTAL-A Nov 2028 May 2036 AMR-C, AMR-CR, IRIS
Sentinel-3 D Dec 2028 Dec 2038 DGXX-S, OLCI, SLSTR, SRAL
Sentinel LSTM-A Mar 2029 Sep 2036 Land Surface Temperature Radiometer
Sentinel ROSE-L A Sep 2029 Mar 2037 L-band SAR
Sentinel CIMR-A Oct 2029 Apr 2037 Imaging Microwave Radiometer
Harmony Dec 2029 Dec 2034 Multiview Thermal-Infared, Passive Synthetic Aperture Radar
Sentinel CHIME-A Dec 2029 Jun 2037 HSI
TRUTHS Mar 2030 Sep 2035 CSAR, HIS
Sentinel LSTM-B Mar 2031 Sep 2038 Land Surface Temperature Radiometer
Sentinel ROSE-L B Sep 2031 Mar 2039 L-band SAR
Sentinel CHIME-B Dec 2031 Jun 2039 HSI
MAGIC/MCDO Dec 2032 Dec 2040 LTI, MicroSTAR accelerometer
METOP-SG B2 Feb 2033 Aug 2041 A-DCS4, ICI, MWI, RO, SCA
METOP-SG A2 Feb 2033 Aug 2042 3MI, IASI-NG, METimage, MWS, RO, UVNS (Sentinel-5)
Sentinel-5 B Feb 2033 Aug 2042 UVNS (Sentinel-5)
MTG-I3 (imaging) Feb 2033 Aug 2043 FCI, LI
Sentinel CRISTAL-B Nov 2033 May 2041 AMR-C, AMR-CR, IRIS
Sentinel CIMR-B Oct 2034 Apr 2042 Imaging Microwave Radiometer
Sentinel-4 B Dec 2035 Jun 2046 UVN (Sentinel-4)
MTG-S2 (sounding) Dec 2035 Jun 2046 IRS, UVN (Sentinel-4)
MTG-I4 (imaging) Dec 2036 Jun 2047 FCI, LI
Sentinel-5 C May 2039 Nov 2047 UVNS (Sentinel-5)
METOP-SG A3 May 2039 Nov 2047 3MI, IASI-NG, METimage, MWS, RO, UVNS (Sentinel-5)
METOP-SG B3 Feb 2040 Aug 2048 ICI, MWI, RO, SCA
Planned Missions
timeline
MissionLaunchEOL Instrument(s)
Space Weather L1-A 2028 2033 COR, Magnetometer, STIS, SWiPS, XFM
EPS-Sterna 2029 2042 -
Sentinel CO2M-C 2029 2037 CLIM, CO2I, MAP
S1NG-A 2032 2040 AIS, C-Band SAR
MAGIC/NGGM 2032 2040 LTI, MicroSTAR accelerometer
S2NG-A 2033 2041 AMSI
S3NGT-A 2033 2041 AMR-CR, Poseidon-5 Altimeter, SAOOH
S3NGO-A 2034 2042 AOLCI, ASLSTR
S1NG-B 2034 2042 AIS, C-Band SAR
S2NG-B 2035 2043 AMSI
S3NGT-B 2035 2043 AMR-CR, Poseidon-5 Altimeter, SAOOH
S3NGO-B 2036 2044 AOLCI, ASLSTR
Sentinel-6 C 2040 2046 AMR-C, DGXX-S, GNSS POD Receiver, GNSS-RO Receiver, LRA (Sentinel-6), Poseidon-4 Altimeter
Considered Missions
timeline
MissionLaunchEOL Instrument(s)
EPS-Aeolus 2034 2044 ALADIN-2, RO
Completed Missions
MissionLaunchEOL Instrument(s)
Meteosat-1 23 Nov 1977 24 Nov 1979 -
Meteosat-2 19 Jun 1981 02 Dec 1991 -
Meteosat-3 15 Jun 1988 01 Aug 1991 Meteosat Comms, MVIRI
Meteosat-4 06 Mar 1989 08 Nov 1995 Meteosat Comms, MVIRI
Meteosat-5 02 Mar 1991 26 Apr 2007 Meteosat Comms, MVIRI
ERS-1 17 Jul 1991 07 Mar 2000 AMI/SAR/Image, AMI/SAR/Wave, AMI/Scatterometer, ATSR, ATSR/M, ERS Comms, MWR, RA
Meteosat-6 20 Nov 1993 02 May 2011 Meteosat Comms, MVIRI
ERS-2 21 Apr 1995 04 Jul 2011 AMI/SAR/Image, AMI/SAR/Wave, AMI/Scatterometer, ATSR/M, ATSR-2, ERS Comms, GOME, MWR, RA
Meteosat-7 02 Sep 1997 11 Apr 2017 Meteosat Comms, MVIRI
PROBA 22 Oct 2001 31 Oct 2021 CHRIS, HRC
Envisat 01 Mar 2002 08 Apr 2012 AATSR, ASAR, ASAR (image mode), ASAR (wave mode), DORIS-NG, ENVISAT Comms, GOMOS, MERIS, MIPAS, MWR, RA-2, SCIAMACHY
GRACE 17 Mar 2002 27 Oct 2017 GRACE instrument
Meteosat-8 28 Aug 2002 30 Nov 2022 GERB, MSG Comms, SEVIRI
CryoSat 08 Oct 2005 08 Oct 2005 DORIS-NG, Laser Reflectors (ESA), SIRAL
Metop-A 19 Oct 2006 15 Nov 2021 A-DCS3, AMSU-A, ASCAT, AVHRR/3, GOME-2, GRAS, HIRS/4, IASI, MHS, S&R (NOAA), SEM (POES)
GOCE 17 Mar 2009 21 Oct 2013 EGG, GPS (ESA), Laser Reflectors (ESA), LRR, SSTI
PROBA-V 07 May 2013 31 Oct 2021 Vegetation
TDS-1 08 Jul 2014 31 May 2019 SGR-ReSI
Sentinel-1 B 25 Apr 2016 03 Aug 2022 C-Band SAR
GOMX4 02 Feb 2018 31 Mar 2023 ADSB Receiver (GOMX4), HyperScout
Aeolus 22 Aug 2018 30 Apr 2023 ALADIN
Federated Satellite Systems 03 Sep 2020 31 Dec 2021 FMPL-2, HyperScout-2, Phisat-1
SEOSAT/Ingenio 17 Nov 2020 17 Nov 2020 PAN+MS (RGB+NIR)
Operational Instruments
InstrumentMission(s)
ACCSwarm
AISSentinel-1 C, Sentinel-1 D, S1NG-A, S1NG-B
AMR-CSentinel-6 A Michael Freilich, Sentinel-6 B, Sentinel CRISTAL-A, Sentinel CRISTAL-B, Sentinel-6 C
ASCATMetop-B, Metop-C, Metop-A
C-Band SARSentinel-1 A, Sentinel-1 C, Sentinel-1 D, S1NG-A, S1NG-B, Sentinel-1 B
CERePOP on CASSIOPE
EFISwarm
FAIePOP on CASSIOPE
FCIMTG-I1 (imaging), MTG-I2 (imaging), MTG-I3 (imaging), MTG-I4 (imaging)
GAPePOP on CASSIOPE
GERBMeteosat-9, Meteosat-10, Meteosat-11, Meteosat-8
GNSS POD ReceiverSentinel-6 A Michael Freilich, Sentinel-6 B, Sentinel-6 C
GOME-2Metop-B, Metop-C, Metop-A
GPS Receiver (Swarm)Swarm
GRASMetop-B, Metop-C, Metop-A
IRMePOP on CASSIOPE
Laser Reflectors (ESA)GOCE, CryoSat, Swarm, CryoSat-2
LIMTG-I1 (imaging), MTG-I2 (imaging), MTG-I3 (imaging), MTG-I4 (imaging)
LRA (Sentinel-6)Sentinel-6 A Michael Freilich, Sentinel-6 B, Sentinel-6 C
MGFePOP on CASSIOPE
MIRAS (SMOS)SMOS
MSI (Sentinel-2)Sentinel-2 A, Sentinel-2 B, Sentinel-2 D, Sentinel-2 C
NMSePOP on CASSIOPE
OLCISentinel-3 A, Sentinel-3 B, Sentinel-3 C, Sentinel-3 D
Poseidon-4 AltimeterSentinel-6 A Michael Freilich, Sentinel-6 B, Sentinel-6 C
RRIePOP on CASSIOPE
SEIePOP on CASSIOPE
SEVIRIMeteosat-9, Meteosat-10, Meteosat-11, Meteosat-8
SGR-ReSI-CDHSDoT-1
SIRALCryoSat, CryoSat-2
SLSTRSentinel-3 A, Sentinel-3 B, Sentinel-3 C, Sentinel-3 D
SRALSentinel-3 A, Sentinel-3 B, Sentinel-3 C, Sentinel-3 D
STRSwarm
TROPOMISentinel-5 precursor
VFMSwarm
Prototype Instruments None.
Instruments Being Developed
InstrumentMission(s)
3MIMETOP-SG A1, METOP-SG A2, METOP-SG A3
AIRMO SpectrometerAIRMO Constellation
ALTIUS InstrumentALTIUS
AMSIS2NG-A, S2NG-B
AOLCIS3NGO-B, S3NGO-A
ASLSTRS3NGO-B, S3NGO-A
AWS InstrumentAWS
CLIMSentinel CO2M-A, Sentinel CO2M-B, Sentinel CO2M-C
CO2ISentinel CO2M-A, Sentinel CO2M-B, Sentinel CO2M-C
CSARTRUTHS
FEIFORUM
HISTRUTHS
HSISentinel CHIME-A, Sentinel CHIME-B
ICIMETOP-SG B1, METOP-SG B2, METOP-SG B3
Imaging Microwave RadiometerSentinel CIMR-B, Sentinel CIMR-A
IRISSentinel CRISTAL-A, Sentinel CRISTAL-B
IRSMTG-S1 (sounding), MTG-S2 (sounding)
Land Surface Temperature RadiometerSentinel LSTM-A, Sentinel LSTM-B
L-band SARSentinel ROSE-L B, Sentinel ROSE-L A
MAPSentinel CO2M-A, Sentinel CO2M-B, Sentinel CO2M-C
MWIMETOP-SG B1, METOP-SG B2, METOP-SG B3
MWSMETOP-SG A1, METOP-SG A2, METOP-SG A3
P-Band SARBiomass
Poseidon-5 AltimeterS3NGT-A, S3NGT-B
ROMETOP-SG A1, METOP-SG B1, METOP-SG A2, METOP-SG A3, METOP-SG B2, METOP-SG B3, EPS-Aeolus
SAOOHS3NGT-A, S3NGT-B
SCAMETOP-SG B1, METOP-SG B2, METOP-SG B3
SGR-ReSI-ZHydroGNSS
UVN (Sentinel-4)MTG-S1 (sounding), MTG-S2 (sounding), Sentinel-4 A, Sentinel-4 B
UVNS (Sentinel-5)METOP-SG A1, Sentinel-5 A, Sentinel-5 B, METOP-SG A2, METOP-SG A3, Sentinel-5 C
Approved Instruments
InstrumentMission(s)
AMR-CRSentinel CRISTAL-A, Sentinel CRISTAL-B, S3NGT-A, S3NGT-B
ATLIDESA Future Missions, EarthCARE
BBR (EarthCARE)EarthCARE
FLORISFLEX
Fourier Transform SpectrometerFORUM
LTIMAGIC/MCDO, MAGIC/NGGM
MSI (EarthCARE)EarthCARE
Multiview Thermal-InfaredHarmony
Passive Synthetic Aperture RadarHarmony
Proposed Instruments
InstrumentMission(s)
ALADIN-2EPS-Aeolus
TBD Instruments None.
No Longer Operational Instruments
InstrumentMission(s)
ADSB Receiver (GOMX4)GOMX4
AIS Receiver (GOMX4)-
ALADINAeolus
AMI/SAR/ImageERS-1, ERS-2
AMI/SAR/WaveERS-1, ERS-2
AMI/ScatterometerERS-1, ERS-2
ASAREnvisat
ASAR (image mode)Envisat
ASAR (wave mode)Envisat
CHRISPROBA
EGGGOCE
ENVISAT CommsEnvisat
ERS CommsERS-1, ERS-2
FMPL-2Federated Satellite Systems
GOMEERS-2
GOMOSEnvisat
GPS (ESA)GOCE
GRACE instrumentGRACE-II, GRACE
HRCPROBA
HyperScoutGOMX4
HyperScout-2Federated Satellite Systems
LRRGOCE
MERISEnvisat
MIPASEnvisat
MVIRIMeteosat-5, Meteosat-3, Meteosat-4, Meteosat-6, Meteosat-7
MWREnvisat, ERS-1, ERS-2
PAN+MS (RGB+NIR)SEOSAT/Ingenio
Phisat-1Federated Satellite Systems
RAERS-1, ERS-2
RA-2Envisat
SCIAMACHYEnvisat
SSTIGOCE
VegetationPROBA-V