ESA issues call for Earth Explorer proposals

As part of ESA’s Earth Observation Programme and its continuing endeavour to address critical Earth science issues, the Agency has released an opportunity for scientists to submit proposals for the eighth Earth Explorer mission.
 
By focusing on science and research, the Earth Explorer series of missions is being flown to improve our understanding of how the Earth system works and how human activity affects natural Earth processes. Earth Explorer missions also test cutting-edge technology for Earth observation, as the recent GOCE gravity mission is clearly demonstrating.  
 
Earth Explorer missions fall into two categories: Core and Opportunity. Core missions respond directly to specific areas of public concern and are selected through widespread consultation with the science community. Opportunity missions are lower-cost satellites that are relatively quick to build and fly so that they can respond to areas of urgent environmental concern.

The user-driven process is fundamental to the development of both types of mission and provides the Earth science community with an efficient tool for advancing our understanding of Earth.
 
In line with ESA’s wish to involve the scientific community in this aspect of its Earth Observation Programme, the current call invites scientists from all 18 Member States and Canada to submit proposals to be evaluated as a potential Opportunity mission. The aim is to launch this mission by 2018.

More information about this call and the facility to upload proposals can be found via ESA's Earth Observation Proposal Upload System.
The deadline for submitting the initial letter of intent is 1 December 2009.

The call is expected to result in the selection of up to three candidate mission feasibility studies, after which they will be reviewed and one will be selected for flight.