​

Today over 90% of the data that goes into weather forecasting models are provided by satellites, and STFC's RAL Space is playing its part in two missions to vastly improve the data being collected.

Accurate and reliable

The first, known as MicroCarb, is a mission to monitor carbon in the atmosphere and is underpinned by UK technology and expertise to ensure that the measurements it takes are as accurate and reliable as possible.

The second is a receiver, a crucial component of Europe's next generation of weather satellites, which will play an important role in measuring temperature, humidity and rain over the next two decades.

Professor Chris Mutlow, Director of STFC RAL Space, which has delivered the two components, said:

“I'm delighted that we have delivered not just one, but two significant parts of important instruments for Earth observation missions in recent weeks. The technology RAL Space has developed will play an important role in understanding and helping to manage our environment.

“The Pointing and Calibration System (PCS) for the MicroCarb mission will ensure our understanding of the carbon cycle, one of the most important factors in climate change, is accurate and reliable. And we are one of only a few places in the world able to develop the advanced microwave receiver which will be at the heart of the next generation of weather satellites. UK science and technology is rising to the urgent challenge of our changing environment."​

MicroCarb

Two UK organisations are providing calibration equipment for the mission which is led by the French space agency - the Centre National D'Etudes Spatiale​s (CNES) and the UK Space Agency.  The on-board Pointing and Calibration System (PCS) is being developed by RAL Space and includes the two onboard calibration sources, which make sure the instrument is measuring accurately and reliably. It also allows the instrument to point at specific targets on the ground such as cities in order to take local measurements of carbon dioxide emissions from urban areas.

Paul Eccleston, Chief Engineer at STFC RAL Space said:

“Our team have risen to the challenge, delivering the PCS despite the difficulties thrown at us by the COVID-19 pandemic. MicroCarb is a hugely important mission and we're proud to be contributing this vital part of the instrument to a satellite which will study one of the most important factors in climate change, the carbon cycle."

The mission will measure the fluxes of carbon dioxide on Earth's surface, how much carbon is being absorbed by oceans and forests and how this varies between seasons. MicroCarb will contribute important information to understanding the processes behind climate change.

The RAL Space team designed, qualified and delivered the PCS to Airbus Defence and Space France where it will ​be integrated into the instrument in January. The instrument will be delivered back to RAL Space where the main spacecraft is being integrated by Thales Alenia Space UK ahead of launch in 2022.

MetOp-SG

The receiver is one of five different designs developed by RAL Space for the Microwave Sounder and Microwave Imager instruments flying on the MetOp-SG satellites.

RAL Space's millimetre wave receiver will be integrated into the Microwave Sounder, an instrument to measure the temperature and humidity of the atmosphere.

MetOp-SG is a programme of six weather satellites led by European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), which will be launched between 2023 and 2038. RAL Space receivers will fly on each satellite, a total of 20 flight-ready receivers will be delivered. The MetOp-SG satellites has a wider range of payloads providing increased observational capability with improved sensitivity, thanks in part to the RAL Space-designed millimetre-wave technology.

Professor Brian Ellison, Head of the Millimetre Wave Technology Group said:

 “This project has been a great team effort across the Millimetre-wave Technology Group and RAL Space. Developing state of the art space flight hardware is challenging at any time, but particularly so in this case where multiple unit production is required and long-term reliability is essential. Not only does each receiver involve making miniature, intricate and highly accurate parts, each must also meet exacting standards of sensitivity performance and work perfectly, even after being stored for over a decade prior to launch.

“Our great team of technologists, engineers and scientists have worked seamlessly and tirelessly together to produce this first flight receiver that will support weather forecasting in the future, and there are more to come."

Each receiver involves making small, intricate and highly accurate parts and each must be perfect. The components are machined precisely, with some features being controlled in size, thousands of times smaller than a human hair. All the sensitive electronic component parts underwent extreme levels of environmental testing, including exposure to high levels of temperature and humidity before production of flight hardware could even commence.

The receiver will now be integrated by Airbus Defence and Space UK into the Microwave Sounder instrument where it will undergo further testing.