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ALTIUS

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ALTIUS
ALTIUS logo
Mission typeEarth Observation
OperatorEuropean Space Agency
Websitehttps://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Altius
Mission duration>3 years (design lifetime)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftALTIUS
BusPROBA
ManufacturerQinetiQ Space
Launch mass266 kilograms (586 lb)[1]
Dry mass254 kilograms (560 lb)[1]
Start of mission
Launch date2026 (2026) (planned)[2]
RocketVega-C
Launch siteKourou ELV
ContractorArianespace
Orbital parameters
Reference systemSun-synchronous orbit
RegimeLow Earth
Altitude≈668 km[1]
Repeat interval3 days[1]
Main payload
NameALTIUS instrument
TypeMulti-channel tuneable spectral imager
WavelengthsUV: 250-355 nm (tuneable)
VIS: 440-675 nm (tuneable)
NIR 600-1020 nm (tuneable)[1]
Resolution1 to 3 km (vertically)[1]
ALTIUS BISA logo
ALTIUS BISA logo

ALTIUS (Atmospheric Limb Tracker for Investigation of the Upcoming Stratosphere) is a satellite mission proposed by the Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy and currently under development by the European Space Agency (ESA). Its main objective is to monitor the distribution and evolution of stratospheric ozone in the Earth's atmosphere.[3][4][5]

Background

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The industrial consortium is led by QinetiQ Space (now Redwire Space[6]), acting as mission prime.[7][4] The satellite design is based on the PROBA small satellite bus.[3] The payload, developed by OIP Sensor Systems, is an innovative UV, visible, and NIR instrument.[8]

Launch

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The mission is scheduled for launch in 2026 from the Guiana Space Centre[2] on Vega-C together with another Earth-observing satellite, FLEX.[9]

Timeline

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  • In January 2020, ESA has awarded a contract, worth €75 million, to QinetiQ Space (now Redwire Space[6]) to build the satellite.[10][11]
  • In January 2022, ESA signed a contract with Arianespace for the joint launch of ALTIUS and FLEX on Vega-C.[9]
  • In July 2025, Redwire has completed the assembly of ALTIUS' satellite platform at their facilities in Belgium.[12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Altius". ESA. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b "ALTIUS - ESA's ozone mission". ESA. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b Fussen, Didier; Dekemper, Emmanuel; Errera, Quentin; Franssens, Ghislain; Mateshvili, Nina; Pieroux, Didier; Vanhellemont, Filip (3 August 2016). "The ALTIUS Mission". Atmospheric Measurement Techniques Discussions: 1–40. doi:10.5194/amt-2016-213.
  4. ^ a b "First ALTIUS Symposium". Space Pole Events. Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy. 2017-05-02. Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  5. ^ "Earth Observation Programmes". ESA Ministerial Council 2016. European Space Agency. 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2018. ALTIUS: Develop and operate a small mission dedicated to the operational monitoring of stratospheric ozone profiles.
  6. ^ a b Jewett, Rachel (2022-10-03). "Redwire to Acquire Belgian Firm QinetiQ Space NV". Via Satellite. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  7. ^ Henry, Caleb (27 January 2020). "QinetiQ to build ozone-monitoring satellite for European Space Agency". SpaceNews. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  8. ^ "ALTIUS". OIP Sensor Systems. Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  9. ^ a b "Ride into space on Vega-C secured for FLEX and Altius". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  10. ^ "Contract secures build of ozone-monitoring Altius satellite". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  11. ^ Henry, Caleb (2020-01-27). "QinetiQ to build ozone-monitoring satellite for European Space Agency". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  12. ^ "ALTIUS ozone mission's satellite platform assembled". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
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