27 April 2026 European Space Agency (THIS) launched a six-week science field campaign in the Arctic to test sensor technologies for three upcoming Copernicus expansion missions. This international initiative includes aerial measurements and ground-based ice studies, aimed at improving data processing algorithms for the Copernicus Imaging Microwave Radiometer missions (CIMR), Copernicus Polar Ice and Snow Topography Altimeter (CRISTAL) and L-band synthetic aperture radar (PINK-L).
The campaign uses Twin Otter and Basler BT-67 aircraft, equipped with modern radar and radiometric devices, which simulate equipment, planned for the future satellite grouping. These onboard sensors measure sea ice thickness, snow depth and surface temperature. The collected data will be directly compared with existing measurements from the CryoSat and Sentinel-3 satellites, to ensure the continuity of climate observations after the commissioning of new generation satellites.
The development of these missions reflects a strategic shift in European Earth observation priorities, focused on rapid changes in the polar regions. The CIMR mission is specifically designed to obtain high-spatial observations of sea surface temperature and sea ice concentration, while CRISTAL will be equipped with a multi-frequency radar altimeter to monitor the height of the ice sheets.
After the completion of the Arctic campaign, the data will undergo a thorough analysis at ESA's European Center for Space Research and Technology. The calibration work is a critical step before the final integration of the equipment. The first Copernicus expansion satellite – CRISTAL – is planned to be launched in 2027 year, followed by the sequential deployment of the CIMR and ROSE-L platforms to complete the polar monitoring architecture.
Source: https://satnews.com