EGPM

1
EGPM

• The European Contribution to Global Precipitation
  Measurement

Status
A.Ginati, A.Tobias, E.Herland ESTEC, Noordwijk,
The Netherlands
2
Artists View
Active/passive microwave sensing well established
Innovation imaging sounding radar
3
Background

• - Several mission proposals for implementation as
  Earth Explorer missions (1994, 1998)
• Support to TRMM exploitation
• Science development
• Technology development
• EGPM proposed as candidate Earth Explorer
  Opportunity Mission
• Significant mission / system definition and
  technology development work achieved

In the TRMM era
In the GPM era
4
Background

• EGPM proposed for implementation as Earth
  Explorer Opportunity Mission (EEOM) in response
  to second call for EEOM
• Conceived as
• ESA contribution to GPM
• Own objectives and optimised for high latitudes,
  light rain, snow flood forecasting in
  Mediterranean areas
• Developed at phase A level
• Mission Advisory Group
• Mission science definition and performance
  estimation studies
• System and support studies
• Technology pre-development activities
• Programmatic dossier

5
Status Explorer Selection Process

• Evaluated for selection among a set of
  candidates
• ACE, EGPM, Swarm
• EarthCARE, SPECTRA, WALES
• For Explorer Missions to be launched in 2008/9
  2010/11
• Subject to thorough scientific and technical /
  programmatic reviews
• Science community, Explorer Consultation meeting
  (19-20 April), Earth Science Advisory Committee
  (ESAC)
• Technical / programmatic review panels
• Recommendations of ESAC
• Proposal implementation recommendations
• Decision Programme Board Earth Observation
  (PB-EO), May 2004

6
Status EGPM evaluation

• Technical / Programmatic Review mature, go ahead
• Main Considerations and Recommendation of ESAC on
  EGPM
• Precipitation, atmospheric parameter least well
  known
• Uniqueness of EGPM recognised
• Full science benefit requires whole GPM, (timing
  EGPM)
• Semi-operational nature of the mission
• Pursue EGPM in different programmatic framework
  (Earth Watch)
• Decision PB-EO accordingly

7
Status Results of Explorer Selection
ACE
Seek implementation in Earth Watch
EGPM
Selected as Explorer 5 Launch 2008 / 2009
SWARM
8
Next
Dual mission strategy
The Earth Explorer missions - Provide the data
to understand the processes - Develop the
science underlying the applications - Demonstrate
the techniques and system concepts

• The Earth Watch missions
• Support the applications
• Provide data continuity as required to study
  numerous science issues

• Discussion with operational partners
• Work plan