Launch of the first laser observation satellite on 22 August 2018 in Kourou. / AFP
The first laser-based wind observation satellite was placed in orbit around the Earth from the Kourou Space Center in French Guiana on Wednesday night, Arianespace said in a statement.
The Aeolus satellite has been successfully installed by the European Vega launcher. The launch took place as planned at 21:20 GMT (11:20 PM Paris) after a delay of 24 hours due to "adverse weather conditions".
After about 55 minutes of mission Aeolus was placed at a height of 320 km.
Aeolus is the "first space mission for measuring winds around the world," Arianespace said.
At the end of the operations Stéphane Israel, the executive chairman of Arianespace, said that he was "proud" that Aeolus "works on sustainable development and a better understanding of climate phenomena".
"More than ever, space is an essential link in the necessary mobilization to preserve our planet," he added.
With an instrument called "Aladin", the satellite will deliver data and dynamic maps in 3D.
Aladin is an instrument that will investigate the atmosphere using ultraviolet lasers, and will inform the tropical dynamics and processes that influence climate change.
Aeolus is part of the environmental monitoring program of the European Space Agency (ESA) "Copernicus".
This is the fifth launch of the year from the Kourou Space Center, the first with Vega.
This shot marks the 12th consecutive success for the Vega launcher.
The next big deal for European space is planned for 5 October 2018. Ariane 5 will have to put ESA & BepiColombo & # 39 ;, the great scientific exploration program of Mercury into orbit around the earth.
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