ESA has selected Airbus UK, Stevenage, to lead the FORUM construction project, according to an announcement on 28 June. The Far-infrared Outgoing Radiation Understanding and Monitoring (FORUM) satellite is an ESA Earth Explorer mission that aims to help understanding of the effects of climate change on the planet by measuring the Earth’s “radiation budget”. It intends to do this by studying the previously unmeasured emissions from the planet in the “far-infrared” portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.
The contract is valued at EUR€160m (US$169m) with Airbus DS, Stevenage, acting as prime contractor. OHB Systems, Germany, has been selected to act as a sub-contractor responsible for the primary instrument. ESA expects the mission to launch in 2027 utilising the Arianespace managed, Italian-built launch vehicle, Vega C.
ESA completed the selection process for its ninth Earth Explorer mission in September 2019, choosing FORUM over the ocean monitoring Sea-surface Kinematics Multiscale (SKIM) concept.
An Artist’s impression of the FORUM satellite in-orbit. Courtesy of Airbus
