Scientists from the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) are preparing for the launch of the EarthCARE satellite today. Using advanced tools such as lidar and radar will help study clouds and their role in heating and cooling the Earth.

Scientists know how clouds form, but they have not yet managed to adequately study the complex relationships between clouds and the aerosols necessary for their formation. The EarthCARE (Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer) satellite, a joint project of European and Japanese scientists, will help answer some questions. Scientists will use EarthCARE data to study the relationship between clouds, aerosols and infrared radiation, which will help create more accurate climate models and forecasts.

In keeping with the Japanese tradition of giving nicknames to satellites, JAXA chose the name “Hakuryu”, meaning “White Dragon”, for EarthCARE (Hakuryu); The device is made of a white body and the solar panel resembles a tail. It is an auspicious sign that 2024 is the Year of the Dragon in Japan. EarthCARE will launch on the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, which will launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on May 29 at 00:20 ET.