Objectives and Applications
EPS-Sterna is a EUMETSAT constellation of meteorological microsatellites providing passive microwave soundings for global atmospheric temperature temperature and humidity profiles soundings in all weather conditions, with frequent revisits over high latitude regions. EPS-Sterna (which is named after the latin name Sterna for the Arctic Tern) will consist of 3 orbital planes with 2 satellites in each orbital plane. With a nominal satellite lifetime of 5 years, a first launch in 2029 and several replenishments of each orbit plane, a minimum mission lifetime for the full system of 13 years will be achieved.
AWS is the protoflight of the constellation, the latter was developed by ESA, the satellite of the EPS-Sterna will be recurrent models of the prototype (with minor modifications).
Local Solar time for AWS is 22:30 (TBC) and EPS-Sterna Descending LST is 03:30, 07:30, 11:30.
Full Name
EUMETSAT Polar System - Sterna
Mission Status
Planned
Mission Agencies
Launch Date
2029
Mission Links
EOL Date
2042
Orbit Type
Sun-synchronous
Orbit Period
97 minutes
Orbit Sense
Ascending
Orbit Inclination
97.79 deg
Orbit Altitude
595 km
Orbit Longitude
Orbit LST
Repeat Cycle
9 days
NORAD Catalog #
International Designator
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