Objectives and Applications
AWS is the protoflight satellite for a planned constellation of meteorological microsatellites providing passive microwave soundings for global atmospheric temperature and humidity profiles soundings in all weather conditions, with frequent revisits over the Arctic and Antarctic polar regions. This constellation (called 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 2 replenishments of each orbit plane, a minimum mission lifetime for the full system of 13 years will be achieved. Local Solar time for AWS is 09:00 - 11:00 and EPS-Sterna Descending LST is 03:30, 07:30, 11:30.
Full Name
Arctic Weather Satellite
aka Arctic Weather Satellite, AWS
Mission Status
Operational (nominal)
Mission Agencies
Launch Date
16 Aug 2024
Mission Links
EOL Date
Aug 2029
Orbit Type
Sun-synchronous
Orbit Period
96.7 minutes
Orbit Sense
Ascending
Orbit Inclination
97.79 deg
Orbit Altitude
602 km
Orbit Longitude
Orbit LST
Repeat Cycle
9 days
NORAD Catalog #
International Designator
MWR - Microwave Radiometer |
| Category | Parameter | Instrument(s) |
| Atmosphere | Atmospheric Humidity Fields | MWR |
| Cloud particle properties and profile | MWR |
| Liquid water and precipitation rate | MWR |
| Atmospheric Temperature Fields | MWR |
| Ocean | Ocean surface winds | MWR |
| Snow & Ice | Sea ice cover, edge and thickness | MWR |
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