ESA Awards OHB EUR 280 Million to Develop Cutting-Edge Earth Observation Satellites for Climate Research

German space technology firm OHB System AG has taken on a significant role in advancing Earth observation through a EUR 280 million contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) for the creation of two innovative Earth observation satellites. The satellites, part of ESA’s “Earth Explorer 10” Harmony mission, are set to provide unprecedented insights into key environmental systems such as ocean circulation, ice dynamics, and land surface deformation. This mission falls under ESA’s FutureEO programme, which aims to enrich scientific understanding of climate change impacts and broader Earth systems through high-resolution data collection.

The contract, signed at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan by ESA’s Director of Earth Observations Programmes Simonetta Cheli and OHB System AG’s Board Member Rüdiger Schönfeld, designates OHB as the prime contractor, leading a consortium of 45 companies across 15 ESA member states. This group, featuring partners like Thales Alenia Space Italia and Canada’s ABB, is tasked with building and integrating sophisticated instruments for the mission.

Harmony Mission Overview and Satellite Specifications

The Harmony mission brings a new level of observational capability to Earth system science. Set for a 2029 launch, the satellites will be launched into orbit approximately 693 kilometers above Earth, flying in tandem with ESA’s existing Sentinel-1D satellite from the Copernicus programme. This collaboration is strategic: the Harmony satellites will leverage radar signals from Sentinel-1D to collect synchronized data. By operating in conjunction, the three-satellite system will deliver highly detailed views of changes within the Earth's atmosphere, oceans, and land.

Each Harmony satellite features a unique combination of instruments: a passive synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and a thermal infrared (TIR) camera. The SAR payload, provided by Thales Alenia Space Italia, will capture high-resolution images of Earth's surface in real time. Meanwhile, the TIR instrument from ABB will detect subtle changes in temperature, offering essential data on thermal energy exchanges between land, oceans, and the atmosphere. This dual-payload setup presents technical challenges and represents a first for OHB, pushing the boundaries of current Earth observation technology.

Scientific and Environmental Impact of Harmony Data

The data collected by Harmony is expected to transform our understanding of multiple Earth processes. With SAR providing imaging capabilities and TIR capturing temperature dynamics, scientists will gain detailed insights into the interactions between ocean currents and atmospheric conditions, the behavior of sea ice and glaciers, and even tectonic and volcanic activity. Such data will be crucial for understanding and forecasting sea-level changes, tracking land deformation due to tectonic shifts, and monitoring potential natural hazards.

Harmony’s high-resolution observations will also support climate models, improving our capacity to predict and mitigate the impacts of climate change. The mission will benefit various sectors, such as crisis response, land and resource management, and marine ecosystem conservation, by delivering real-time data that can help authorities make informed decisions on environmental protection and sustainable resource use.

Building an International Consortium for Innovation

Leading this ambitious mission, OHB System AG oversees a diverse industrial consortium, including 45 companies across Europe and beyond, with more partners expected to join as development progresses. This collaborative approach ensures the mission’s success by pooling expertise from a wide array of aerospace, environmental science, and engineering specialists. For example, Thales Alenia Space Italia’s SAR capabilities and ABB’s TIR instrumentation add unique strengths to the satellites, allowing for high accuracy in observing climate-driven changes across vast and remote areas.

Simonetta Cheli of ESA highlighted Harmony’s role in filling critical knowledge gaps, saying the data will bridge “current knowledge gaps in Earth system science,” while OHB’s Schönfeld emphasized the mission’s importance and complexity, remarking on the groundbreaking combination of SAR and TIR instruments as a step forward in Earth observation.

Looking Ahead: A Mission for Global Understanding and Climate Action

With Harmony, ESA and OHB are set to advance Earth observation science on an unprecedented scale, offering a new lens through which to view our planet's changing environment. By collecting valuable data on climate and environmental changes, the mission aims to address urgent global challenges. As OHB and its partners progress toward the 2029 launch, Harmony remains a symbol of scientific innovation, international cooperation, and a commitment to sustaining our planet.