The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) has announced seven projects to support rapid development of Earth observation instruments monitoring the climate and marine environment.

The Earth Observation for Marine and Climate Mission (EO4MCM) development programme is part of a wider £15m Government investment announced in 2022. It aims to identify and develop instruments for applications relating to climate change, maritime and net-zero, which are suitable for deployment on constellations of small satellites.

These projects aim to fill gaps in understanding of the complex climate system, helping monitor more accurately whether crucial climate targets are being met and the effectiveness of interventions mitigating the effects of climate change.

Andy Vick, EO4MCM programme lead and dead of disruptive technology at RAL Space, said: “This programme gives UK technologists an opportunity to show what they can do with a new-space constellation and leverages our leadership in small satellites. It will hopefully demonstrate the affordability of these technologies and their benefits alongside larger scale European programmes.”

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