UK secures funding for climate monitoring satellite at COP28

During the COP28 climate conference in Dubai, UAE, two space companies were awarded major contracts to work on a UK-led climate satellite mission

The UK Space Agency, through its membership in the European Space Agency (ESA), has allocated nearly £95 million to Airbus UK and £9 million to Teledyne e2v for the phase of the TRUTHS mission. 

This project aims to enhance the understanding of Earth’s climate by providing the most accurate measurements of solar energy and Earth’s surface reflections. 

Airbus UK and Teledyne e2v’s role

The funding will support Airbus UK in the design and development of the satellite, while Teledyne e2v will work on a critical component called Hyperspectral Imaging Spectrometer Detection System.

This advanced sensor will precisely measure ocean and land surfaces, contributing to Earth’s radiation budget studies, climate modelling, land use changes, the carbon cycle, agriculture and pollution. 

TRUTHS, which stands for Traceable Radiometry Underpinning Terrestrial and Helio-Studies, is scheduled for launch in 2030. It aims to create a ‘climate and calibration observatory in space’, significantly reducing the uncertainty in Earth’s observation data and establishing new benchmarks for detecting changes in the Earth’s climate system. 

Science, Research, and Innovation Minister Andrew Griffith emphasised the global impact of this UK-led climate satellite mission, stating that it would provide valuable measurements to enhance our understanding of climate change. 

A climate satellite mission: TRUTHS’ role in climate action

The TRUTHS mission will complement existing missions like the Copernicus Sentinel and enhance the accuracy of satellite observations. By observing the moon and specific Earth sites, TRUTHS will provide calibration references, improving the overall precision of the global Earth observation network and supporting decisive climate action. 

Jean-Marc Nasr, Head of Space Systems at Airbus, expressed excitement about building a mission enabling scientists to cross-reference measurements, leading to more accurate forecasts and analyses in a shorter time. 

“TRUTHS will provide the gold standard of calibration for space-based Earth observation – a kind of ‘standards laboratory in space’. “

The announcement was made during the UK Space Agency’s participation in COP28 in Dubai, where they host events on TRUTHS and the importance of international standards for monitoring methane in space. The TRUTHS mission aligns with the global collaboration system and complements NASA’s CLARREO pathfinder mission.

This news follows the Autumn Statement’s recent allocation of £47 million to boost activity and innovation in the Earth observation sector. It also anticipates the UK rejoining the EU Copernicus program in January 2024. The climate satellite mission underscores the UK’s commitment to Earth observation, having pledged £314 million in funding in November 2022 as part of its record investment in ESA programs.