Earth Explorer 11 User Consultation Meeting : Watch live

On 9 July 2025, leading scientists and experts in Earth observation will gather in Prague, Czechia, for a pivotal moment in Earth science – to delve into and debate the strengths of the two finalist candidate satellite missions, CAIRT and WIVERN, as they compete to be selected as ESA’s eleventh Earth Explorer.

The final Earth Explorer 11 User Consultation Meeting will be streamed live on ESA WebTV TWO open for all to follow. Tune in at 09:00 CEST (see programme below) to witness this critical milestone in shaping ESA’s next world-class Earth Explorer research mission.

Wednesday 9 July 2025 – programme (all times in CEST)

09:00 – Welcome and introductions

09:50 – CAIRT mission: Science (part 1)

10:25 – CAIRT mission: Technology

10:55 – Break

11:25 – CAIRT mission: Science (part 2)

11:55 – CAIRT mission: Programmatics

12:05 – CAIRT mission Q&A

12:50 – Lunch break

14:00 – WIVERN mission: Science (part 1)

14:35 – WIVERN mission: Technology

15:05 – Break

15:35 – WIVERN mission: Science (part 2)

16:05 – WIVERN mission: Programmatics

16:15 – WIVERN mission: Q&A

17:00 – Open discussion

18:00 – End

Earth Explorers, developed within ESA’s FutureEO programme, are pioneering missions that push the boundaries of satellite observation, using innovative technologies to unlock new insights about our planet. These missions don’t just advance science – they tackle pressing societal challenges related to food security, water availability, energy, natural resources, public health, weather and climate change.

After the User Consultation Meeting and following careful deliberation, ESA’s Advisory Committee for Earth Observation will provide a scientific recommendation to support the selection of one candidate mission – CAIRT or WIVERN. The final decision will then be made by ESA’s Earth Observation Programme Board when it convenes in September.

CAIRT– short for changing-atmosphere infrared tomography – would provide the measurements needed to make a necessary step change in understanding the links between climate change, atmospheric chemistry and dynamics in the altitude range of about 5 to 115 km. It would focus on the processes that couple atmospheric circulation, composition and regional climate change, providing critical observations not available from existing or planned satellite missions. CAIRT would be the first limb-sounder with imaging Fourier-transform infrared technology in space.

WIVERN – short for wind velocity radar nephoscope – would provide the first measurements of wind within clouds and precipitation. There is a notable gap in global observations of wind in cloudy regions. The mission would also deliver profiles of rain, snow and ice water. Carrying a dual-polarisation, conically scanning, 94 GHz Doppler radar with an 800 km swath, the mission would improve forecasts of hazardous weather and provide new insights into severe storms. It would also contribute to the climate record of cloud and precipitation profiling.

Source : ESA

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