BackForward Satellite Programme: Traceable Radiometry Underpinning Terrestrial- and Helio- Studies 

Programme details
Programme description
  • Single Satellite programe to provide high accuracy observations of incoming and earth reflected solar radiation spectrally resolved and total and to serve as a calibration reference for other satellites.
  • European programme: ESA responsible for the development of the space segment on behalf of a multi-national consortium led by the UK Space Agency (UKSA) with contributions from Greece, Switzerland, Romania and the Czech Republic.
  • The platform is stabilised over 3 axes.
  • The design life time of the satellites is 5 years.
  • Drifting polar orbit.  61 days revisit time for six cycles per year to characterise the full diurnal cycle and seasonal variations over the whole globe.
  • More details at https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/TRUTHS  and https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12152400
Data circulation

TBD

Agencies ESAUKSA
Programme lifetime 2031 - 2041
Associated satellites and instruments

Note: red tag => no longer operational , green tag => operational , blue tag => planned

  • Traceable Radiometry Underpinning Terrestrial- and Helio- Studies