29/05/2024 (Agence Europe) – The European Space Agency’s (ESA) EarthCARE (Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer) satellite lifted off aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from the Californian space base at Vandenberg (USA) on the night of 28-29 May. EarthCARE will study the role of clouds and aerosols in the Earth’s climate and provide information to shed new light on the complex interactions between clouds, aerosols and radiation in the Earth’s atmosphere. The first results could be unveiled as early as the end of 2024. This mission is a joint venture between ESA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). A consortium of more than 75 companies was involved in the design and construction of the satellite, which has an initial life expectancy of three years. (CG)