ABB is to develop and build thermal infrared payloads for the Harmony mission of the ESA and its two Earth research satellites. According to a press release, ABB has been awarded the corresponding contract for this project by OHB System AG, although no financial details have been disclosed.
The Bremen-based aerospace and technology company is building these two Harmony satellites on behalf of the ESA. To this end, OHB System was awarded a contract valued at 280 million euros. “We have been collaborating [with ABB] on several space programs and know that they are very capable”, comments Agustina Alvarez Toledo, Harmony Project Manager at OHB System AG, adding that: “We look forward to working together again”. This tenth Earth Explorer mission is planned to launch in 2029.
The two new Harmony concept satellites for this mission will orbit the Earth in tandem with the Sentinel-1 satellite. Using a combination of thermal and radar images, they will provide new insights into the heat exchange processes between the upper layers of the ocean and the air above - the drivers of extreme weather events - as well as the long-term effects of climate change. The satellites will also deliver information in connection with rising sea levels and the movement of mountain glaciers. Moreover, the Harmony mission aims to improve our understanding of geological risks.
According to Jacques Mulbert, President of the ABB Measurement & Analytics division, with this project ABB is showcasing its ability “to provide accurate cloud positioning and sea surface measurement from space, contributing to a deeper scientific understanding of our planet in order to preserve its future”. ce/mm
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