British-built LASER spacecraft will be launched into space tonight
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Loading... - Carmina Santos
- 22 Aug 2021
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Tonight, a British-built satellite equipped with a 3.4-Kilowatt laser will be launched into space.
The satellite, dubbed Aeolus, was built by Airbus Defence and Space in Stevenage, and will lift-off on a Vega rocket from Europe’s Spaceport at Kourou in French Guiana this evening at 22:20 BST.
Once in orbit, Aeolus will fly at a height of 200 miles above Earth, beaming the laser down into the atmosphere to measure wind speeds.
This approach could revolutionise the accuracy of weather forecasting, helping to protect people from disasters like floods and hurricanes across the world.
Science Minister Sam Gyimah said: “The Aeolus mission is a great example of the potential real-world impacts that space can have on Earth.
“Its data will lead to more reliable weather forecasts that can be used by farmers, seafarers, construction workers and others to improve productivity and safety.
“Space is a key part of our modern Industrial Strategy and it is work like this that shows how vital our role in the European Space Agency is in bringing real benefits to UK companies.”
You can watch Aeolus launch live on the European Space Agency website.
