ESA have recently passed the next stage in selecting the next in the line of Earth Explorer missions. This process will choose the next satellite to continue the series which so far includes CryoSat-2, SMOS, GOCE, Swarm, ADM-Aeolus & EarthCARE.
The shortlist has now been reduced from six to three. The candidate missions are briefly outlined below. Follow the links for more information.
BIOMASS – aims to measure the distribution and temporal changes of forest biomass at a global scale. Note a secondary objective of this mission is measurement of ice thickness.
CoReH2O – aims to measure fresh water stored in snow on land surfaces and in snow accumulation on glaciers and ice sheets.
PREMIER – aims to quantify processes controlling global atmospheric composition in the mid- to upper-troposphere and lower stratosphere.
To give you some idea of the timescales involved in planning satellite missions, whichever mission is finally selected the launch is anticipated in 2016.