spacetoday.net: Astrium wins contract for ESA weather satellite

Posted: Fri, Oct 24, 2003, 8:50 AM ET (1250 GMT)
Aeolus spacecraft illustration (Astrium)

EADS Astrium will build a satellite for ESA to track wind patterns in the Earth's atmosphere, the company reported Thursday. Astrium will build the Aeolus satellite, scheduled for launch in 2007. Aeolus will carry a laser to measure wind speed and direction at various altitudes in the atmosphere across the planet. The spacecraft is based on the same platform used for the Mars Express and Venus Express mission and will be built in Astrium's UK facility. The value of the contract is €180 million (US$210 million). The satellite is the third contract Astrium has won this week; the company earlier won contracts for two Arabsat communications satellites.