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
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
Sentinel-2Sentinel-2 A, Sentinel-2 B, Sentinel-2 C, Sentinel-2 D
Sentinel-3Sentinel-3 A, Sentinel-3 B, Sentinel-3 C, Sentinel-3 D
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 2023 OSIRIS, SMR
SCISAT-1 12 Aug 2003 Mar 2024 ACE-FTS, MAESTRO
Meteosat-9 22 Dec 2005 Jan 2025 GERB, MSG Comms, SEVIRI
SMOS 02 Nov 2009 Dec 2025 MIRAS (SMOS)
CryoSat-2 08 Apr 2010 Dec 2024 DORIS-NG, Laser Reflectors (ESA), SIRAL
Meteosat-10 05 Jul 2012 Sep 2030 GERB, MSG Comms, SEVIRI
Metop-B 17 Sep 2012 Aug 2024 A-DCS3, AMSU-A, ASCAT, AVHRR/3, GOME-2, GRAS, HIRS/4, IASI, MHS, S&R (NOAA), SEM (POES)
Swarm 22 Nov 2013 Dec 2025 ACC, ASM, EFI, GPS Receiver (Swarm), Laser Reflectors (ESA), STR, VFM
Sentinel-1 A 03 Apr 2014 Jul 2024 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 Jan 2026 OLCI, SLSTR, SRAL
Sentinel-1 B 25 Apr 2016 Mar 2026 C-Band SAR
Sentinel-2 B 06 Mar 2017 Feb 2027 MSI (Sentinel-2)
Sentinel-5 precursor 13 Oct 2017 Sep 2027 UVNS (Sentinel-5 precursor)
GOMX4 02 Feb 2018 Dec 2023 HyperScout
Sentinel-3 B 25 Apr 2018 Aug 2028 OLCI, SLSTR, SRAL
Aeolus 22 Aug 2018 Dec 2023 ALADIN
Metop-C 07 Nov 2018 Dec 2027 A-DCS3, AMSU-A, ASCAT, AVHRR/3, GOME-2, GRAS, IASI, MHS, SEM (POES)
PhiSat-1 03 Sep 2020 Dec 2022 HyperScout-2
Sentinel-6 A Michael Freilich 21 Nov 2020 Jun 2026 AMR-C, DORIS-NG, GNSS POD Receiver, GNSS-RO Receiver, LRA (Sentinel-6), Poseidon-4 Altimeter
MTG-I1 (imaging) 13 Dec 2022 31 May 2031 FCI, LI
Approved Missions
timeline
MissionLaunchEOL Instrument(s)
EarthCARE Sep 2023 Sep 2026 ATLID, BBR (EarthCARE), CPR (EarthCARE), MSI (EarthCARE)
Sentinel-1 C Dec 2023 Dec 2029 C-Band SAR
Biomass Dec 2023 Aug 2029 P-Band SAR
Sentinel-2 C Jan 2024 Jan 2034 MSI (Sentinel-2)
AWS Mar 2024 Mar 2029 MWR (AWS)
Sentinel-4 A Jun 2024 Dec 2032 UVN (Sentinel-4)
MTG-S1 (sounding) Jun 2024 Dec 2032 IRS, UVN
Sentinel-3 C Oct 2024 Oct 2034 OLCI, SLSTR, SRAL
HydroGNSS Oct 2024 Oct 2026 GNSS Reflectometer (HydroGNSS)
Sentinel-5 A Dec 2024 Jun 2032 UVNS (Sentinel-5)
METOP-SG A1 Dec 2024 Jun 2032 3MI, IASI-NG, METimage, MWS, RO, UVNS (Sentinel-5)
METOP-SG B1 Mar 2025 Sep 2032 A-DCS4, ICI, MWI, RO, SCA
Sentinel-5 B Mar 2025 Sep 2032 UVNS (Sentinel-5)
FLEX Mar 2025 Mar 2028 FLORIS
ALTIUS May 2025 May 2028 ALTIUS Instrument
CubeMAP Jun 2025 Jun 2028 TIS (ESP-MACCS), VNIR Hyperspectral Solar Disk Imager (ESP-MACCS)
MTG-I2 (imaging) Sep 2025 Mar 2034 FCI, LI
Sentinel CO2M-A Dec 2025 Jun 2033 CLIM, CO2I, MAP
Sentinel CO2M-B Mar 2026 Sep 2033 CLIM, CO2I, MAP
TRUTHS Dec 2026 Dec 2034 CSAR, HIS
FORUM Jul 2027 Dec 2031 Fourier Transform Spectrometer
Sentinel-1 D Sep 2028 Sep 2038 C-Band SAR
Sentinel-2 D Oct 2028 Oct 2038 MSI (Sentinel-2)
Sentinel-3 D Nov 2028 Nov 2038 OLCI, SLSTR, SRAL
MAGIC - NGGM Dec 2028 Dec 2035 MAGIC Instrument
MAGIC - MCDO Dec 2028 Dec 2035 MAGIC Instrument
Harmony Dec 2029 Dec 2034 Multiview Thermal-Infared, Passive Synthetic Aperture Radar
MTG-I3 (imaging) Dec 2030 Jun 2039 FCI, LI
METOP-SG A2 Dec 2031 Jun 2039 3MI, IASI-NG, METimage, MWS, RO, UVNS (Sentinel-5)
METOP-SG B2 Mar 2032 Sep 2039 A-DCS4, ICI, MWI, RO, SCA
Sentinel-4 B Jun 2032 Dec 2040 UVN (Sentinel-4)
MTG-S2 (sounding) Jun 2032 Dec 2040 IRS, UVN
MTG-I4 (imaging) Jun 2033 Dec 2041 FCI, LI
METOP-SG A3 Dec 2038 Jun 2046 3MI, IASI-NG, METimage, MWS, RO, UVNS (Sentinel-5)
Sentinel-5 C Dec 2038 Dec 2046 UVNS (Sentinel-5)
METOP-SG B3 Mar 2039 Sep 2046 A-DCS4, ICI, MWI, RO, SCA
Planned Missions
timeline
MissionLaunchEOL Instrument(s)
Sentinel-6 B 2025 2031 AMR-C, DORIS-NG, GNSS POD Receiver, GNSS-RO Receiver, LRA (Sentinel-6), Poseidon-4 Altimeter
Sentinel CO2M-C 2026 2034 CLIM, CO2I, MAP
Sentinel CRISTAL-A 2028 2035 AMR-C, IRIS
Sentinel ROSE-L A 2028 2035 L-band SAR
Sentinel CHIME-A 2028 2036 HSI
Sentinel LSTM-A 2028 2036 Land Surface Temperature Radiometer
Sentinel CIMR-A 2029 2036 Imaging Microwave Radiometer
Aeolus-2 2029 2034 ALADIN-2
Sentinel CRISTAL-B 2030 2037 AMR-C, IRIS
Sentinel ROSE-L B 2030 2038 L-band SAR
Sentinel LSTM-B 2030 2038 Land Surface Temperature Radiometer
Sentinel CHIME-B 2030 2038 HSI
Sentinel CIMR-B 2031 2038 Imaging Microwave Radiometer
Considered Missions
None.
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
SEOSAT/Ingenio 17 Nov 2020 17 Nov 2020 PAN+MS (RGB+NIR)
Operational Instruments
InstrumentMission(s)
ACCSwarm
ALADINAeolus
AMR-CSentinel-6 A Michael Freilich, Sentinel-6 B, Sentinel CRISTAL-A, Sentinel CRISTAL-B
ASCATMetop-B, Metop-C, Metop-A
C-Band SARSentinel-1 A, Sentinel-1 B, Sentinel-1 C, Sentinel-1 D
EFISwarm
GERBMeteosat-9, Meteosat-10, Meteosat-11, Meteosat-8
GNSS POD ReceiverSentinel-6 A Michael Freilich, Sentinel-6 B
GOME-2Metop-B, Metop-C, Metop-A
GPS Receiver (Swarm)Swarm
GRASMetop-B, Metop-C, Metop-A
HyperScoutGOMX4
HyperScout-2PhiSat-1
Laser Reflectors (ESA)GOCE, CryoSat, Swarm, CryoSat-2
LRA (Sentinel-6)Sentinel-6 A Michael Freilich, Sentinel-6 B
MIRAS (SMOS)SMOS
MSI (Sentinel-2)Sentinel-2 A, Sentinel-2 B, Sentinel-2 C, Sentinel-2 D
OLCISentinel-3 A, Sentinel-3 B, Sentinel-3 C, Sentinel-3 D
Poseidon-4 AltimeterSentinel-6 A Michael Freilich, Sentinel-6 B
SEVIRIMeteosat-9, Meteosat-10, Meteosat-11, Meteosat-8
SGR-ReSI-ZDoT-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
UVNS (Sentinel-5 precursor)Sentinel-5 precursor
VFMSwarm
Prototype Instruments None.
Instruments Being Developed
InstrumentMission(s)
3MIMETOP-SG A1, METOP-SG A2, METOP-SG A3
ALTIUS InstrumentALTIUS
FCIMTG-I2 (imaging), MTG-I3 (imaging), MTG-I4 (imaging), MTG-I1 (imaging)
ICIMETOP-SG B1, METOP-SG B2, METOP-SG B3
IRSMTG-S1 (sounding), MTG-S2 (sounding), MTG-S1, MTG-S2
LIMTG-I2 (imaging), MTG-I3 (imaging), MTG-I4 (imaging), MTG-I1 (imaging)
MWIMETOP-SG B1, METOP-SG B2, METOP-SG B3
MWR (AWS)AWS
MWSMETOP-SG A1, METOP-SG A2, METOP-SG A3
P-Band SARBiomass
ROMETOP-SG A1, METOP-SG B1, METOP-SG A2, METOP-SG A3, METOP-SG B2, METOP-SG B3
SCAMETOP-SG B1, METOP-SG B2, METOP-SG B3
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)
ATLIDEarthCARE, ESA Future Missions
BBR (EarthCARE)EarthCARE
FLORISFLEX
Fourier Transform SpectrometerFORUM
MAGIC InstrumentMAGIC - NGGM, MAGIC - MCDO
MSI (EarthCARE)EarthCARE
Multiview Thermal-InfaredHarmony
Passive Synthetic Aperture RadarHarmony
UVNMTG-S1 (sounding), MTG-S2 (sounding), MTG-S1, MTG-S2
Proposed Instruments
InstrumentMission(s)
ALADIN-2Aeolus-2
CSARTRUTHS
GNSS Reflectometer (HydroGNSS)HydroGNSS
HISTRUTHS
TIS (ESP-MACCS)CubeMAP
UVN (Sentinel-4)Sentinel-4 A, Sentinel-4 B
VNIR Hyperspectral Solar Disk Imager (ESP-MACCS)CubeMAP
TBD Instruments None.
No Longer Operational Instruments
InstrumentMission(s)
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
GOMEERS-2
GOMOSEnvisat
GPS (ESA)GOCE
GRACE instrumentGRACE-II, GRACE
HRCPROBA
LRRGOCE
MERISEnvisat
MIPASEnvisat
MVIRIMeteosat-5, Meteosat-3, Meteosat-4, Meteosat-6, Meteosat-7
MWREnvisat, ERS-1, ERS-2
PAN+MS (RGB+NIR)SEOSAT/Ingenio
RAERS-1, ERS-2
RA-2Envisat
SCIAMACHYEnvisat
SSTIGOCE
VegetationPROBA-V