Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Space
  • /
  • Airbus to build two radiometers for CNES

Space

Airbus to build two radiometers for CNES

Airbus has been selected by the French Space Agency (CNES) to design and build two new generation microwave radiometers as part of the French contribution to the Atmosphere Observing System (AOS): the C²OMODO mission (Convective Core Observations through MicrOwave Derivatives in the trOpics).

Above: Atmosphere Observing System international climate mission overview.
Courtesy Airbus / copyright NASA

A cooperative initiative between the US, Canada, Japan, Italy and France, AOS’ goal is to optimise how we examine links between aerosols, clouds, atmospheric convection and precipitation. Encompassing six satellites as well as suborbital platforms in the air and on land, it will provide key data for improved forecasts of weather, air quality and climate.

Advertisement
Leonardo RT

“Working on climate missions is something that really matters to us at Airbus. Just a few weeks after launch of the EarthCARE mission with Europe and Japan, it is an honour to be part of another climate mission, this time NASA-led with international partners,” said Alain Fauré, Head of Space Systems at Airbus. “I would like to thank the French Space Agency, CNES, for supporting European industry. With this contract Airbus is further reinforcing its role in helping better understand clouds, weather and climate.”

C²OMODO will provide the first-ever global view of vertical air motions and precipitation properties in convective storms. This will enable two key improvements: the enhanced understanding of how intense precipitation forms and how these processes are represented in computer weather models which will lead to improved global weather forecasting.

Advertisement
ODU RT

Designed and built in Toulouse, France, the C²OMODO high-frequency microwave radiometers will be mounted on two of the AOS satellites, working in tandem in an inclined orbit: AOS-Storm, under the lead of the US and Precipitation Measuring Mission (PMM) under the lead of Japan.

Advertisement
PTC PTC
Orbex pre-selected for European Launcher Challenge

Space

Orbex pre-selected for European Launcher Challenge

8 July 2025

Orbex, the UK-based orbital launch services company, has been pre-selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) to take part in its prestigious European Launcher Challenge (ELC).

UK achieves silver at the International Youth Rocketry Championships

Space Events

UK achieves silver at the International Youth Rocketry Championships

7 July 2025

A team of four students from Teignmouth Community School in Devon came second in the International Youth Rocketry Championships, narrowly missing pole position in a nail-biting final.

Blue Canyon’s CubeSat to support ARCSTONE

Space

Blue Canyon’s CubeSat to support ARCSTONE

7 July 2025

Blue Canyon Technologies, RTX’s small satellite manufacturer and mission services provider, has announced the successful launch of a CubeSat in support of ARCSTONE, a NASA mission to measure lunar spectral reflectance, or the way sunlight is reflected back from the Moon's surface at different wavelengths of light.

Serco appoints Keith Williams as Chair

Aerospace Defence Security Space

Serco appoints Keith Williams as Chair

4 July 2025

Serco has appointed Keith Williams to the Board as a Non-Executive Director and Chair designate.

Advertisement
DSEI 2025
UK launches tender for space debris removal

Space

UK launches tender for space debris removal

3 July 2025

The UK Space Agency has launched a major new procurement process to tackle the growing threat of space debris, initiating a £75.6 million tender for the nation’s first mission to actively remove defunct satellites from orbit.

Boeing appoints Stephen Parker as CEO of BDS

Defence Security Space

Boeing appoints Stephen Parker as CEO of BDS

3 July 2025

Boeing has appointed Stephen (Steve) Parker as president and chief executive officer of its Defense, Space & Security (BDS) business, effective immediately.

Advertisement
Gulfstream RT