Far-infrared Outgoing Radiation Understanding and Monitoring
{{short description|Future ESA satellite to study Earth's radiation budget}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = FORUM
| names_list =
| image = FORUM_-_ESA.png
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| mission_type = Earth observing satellite
| operator = ESA
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| SATCAT =
| website = https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FutureEO/FORUM
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| manufacturer = Airbus
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| launch_date = 2027 (planned){{Cite web |title=Contract secures design for ESA's FORUM satellite |url=https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FutureEO/Contract_secures_design_for_ESA_s_FORUM_satellite |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}
| launch_rocket =
| launch_site = Kourou
| launch_contractor =
| orbit_reference = Geocentric
| orbit_regime = Sun-synchronous
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| apsis =
| programme = Living Planet Programme
| previous_mission = FLEX
| next_mission = Harmony
}}
FORUM (Far-infrared Outgoing Radiation Understanding and Monitoring) is a European Earth observing satellite that is scheduled to launch in 2027.{{cite web |url=https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FutureEO/Contract_secures_design_for_ESA_s_FORUM_satellite |title=Contract secures design for ESA's FORUM satellite |work=ESA |date=28 June 2022 |access-date=28 June 2022}}
The FORUM mission is led by the European Space Agency (ESA) and has as its main goal the study of the Earth's radiation budget. It is expected that FORUM's measurements will be improving climate models and offer new insights into the way climate change is affecting the planet. The mission is expected to cost a maximum of 260 million euros.{{Cite news |last=Vaughan |first=Adam |date=24 September 2019 |title=European satellite will reveal Earth's atmosphere in unrivalled detail |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/2217368-european-satellite-will-reveal-earths-atmosphere-in-unrivalled-detail/ |access-date=24 September 2019 |work=New Scientist}}{{Cite news |last=Cristobal |first=L. C. |date=24 September 2019 |title=ESA to launch satellite to gather high-resolution view of greenhouse effect |url=https://livenewsclub.com/esa-to-launch-satellite-to-gather-hi-resolution-view-of-greenhouse-effect/ |access-date=24 September 2019 |work=LiveNewsClub}}
Background
The main scientific purpose of FORUM is to better understand the Earth's radiation budget - the balance between the incoming radiation mostly from the Sun at short wavelengths, and outgoing radiation, which is a combination of reflected radiation from the Sun and radiation emitted by the Earth system, much of it a longer wavelengths - and the way this exchange is affected by the changes in the Earth's atmosphere caused by human activity.
FORUM will especially be measuring the long-wavelength outgoing energy, which is strongly influenced by water vapour and thin ice clouds in the Earth's atmosphere. According to available data, about 50 percent of the total energy emitted by the Earth is in this long-wavelength range, but these emissions were not monitored in detail from space until now.{{Cite news|url=https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/193067/new-satellite-looking-earth-losing-cool/|title=New satellite looking at how Earth is losing its cool gets the go-ahead|last=Dunning|first=Hayley|date=24 September 2019|work=Imperial College London|access-date=24 September 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.scitecheuropa.eu/european-space-agency-will-add-to-climate-knowledge/97242/|title=European Space Agency will add to climate knowledge|date=24 September 2019|work=SciTech Europea|access-date=24 September 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-49799760|title=Satellite will gain hi-res view of greenhouse effect|last=Amos|first=Jonathan|date=24 September 2019|work=BBC|access-date=24 September 2019|language=en-GB}}
These insights will offer a better understanding of the climatic changes taking place on Earth and improve climate predictions. According to ESA, the FORUM mission was selected over SKIM specifically because it promises to "fill in a critical missing piece of the climate jigsaw".{{Cite web |date=24 September 2019 |title=A new satellite to understand how Earth is losing its cool |url=https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/A_new_satellite_to_understand_how_Earth_is_losing_its_cool |access-date=24 September 2019 |website=European Space Agency |language=en-GB}}
Timeline
- In November 2017, ESA has chosen FORUM and SKIM, to compete to be the ninth Earth Explorer mission.{{Cite web |title=Two new Earth Explorer concepts to understand our rapidly changing world |url=https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FutureEO/Preparing_for_tomorrow/Two_new_Earth_Explorer_concepts_to_understand_our_rapidly_changing_world |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}
- On 24 September 2019, ESA announced that FORUM was selected to become the ninth Earth Explorer mission, beating the Sea surface KInematics Multiscale monitoring (SKIM) proposal following a two-year feasibility study phase.{{Cite web |date=15 November 2017 |title=Two new Earth Explorer concepts to understand our rapidly changing world |url=https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Two_new_Earth_Explorer_concepts_to_understand_our_rapidly_changing_world |access-date=26 September 2019 |website=European Space Agency |language=en-GB}}
- In June 2022, ESA has awarded a contract worth €160 million to Airbus in the UK to build the FORUM satellite.{{Cite web |title=Contract secures design for ESA’s FORUM satellite |url=https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FutureEO/FORUM/Contract_secures_design_for_ESA_s_FORUM_satellite |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}
- In August 2023, Airbus has completed the Preliminary Design Review of the satellite.{{Cite web |title=Airbus completes key milestone for ESA’s FORUM satellite - ADS Advance |url=https://www.adsadvance.co.uk/airbus-completes-key-milestone-for-esa-s-forum-satellite.html |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=www.adsadvance.co.uk}}
- In December 2024, ESA has signed a contract with Avio for the launch of FORUM on a Vega-C rocket in late 2027.{{Cite web |title=ESA signs launch contract for climate mission FORUM with Avio |url=https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FutureEO/FORUM/ESA_signs_launch_contract_for_climate_mission_FORUM_with_Avio |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}