MERLIN

French space agency CNES has selected Airbus Defence and Space to build the methane remote sensing LIDAR mission (MERLIN) satellite.

Designed to study the varying concentrations of methane gas in Earth’s atmosphere, MERLIN is the first joint mission of CNES and Germany’s DLR space agencies.

Airbus Defence and Space space systems head François Auque said: "We are happy to run the first Franco-German Earth observation satellite programme and we will build the spacecraft on both sides of the Rhine."

DLR previously selected Airbus Defence and Space as the prime contractor for early development phases (0-B) of the MERLIN payload.

"The LIDAR instrument will emit a laser at two different wavelengths and measures their reflections off the Earth’s surface."

Planned for launch in 2020, the satellite will be built on Airbus AstroBus-S platform and will incorporate light detection and ranging (LIDAR) instrument.

The LIDAR instrument will emit a laser at two different wavelengths and measures their reflections off the Earth’s surface.

As one of the two wavelengths is absorbed by the methane, the difference will be evaluated to measure the atmosphere’s methane content.

According to Airbus, the MERLIN LIDAR instrument will have its own light source on-board, enabling it to operate day and night without relying on sunlight on the observed areas.

Airbus Defence and Space in Germany will design and build the LIDAR instrument, while Airbus Defence and Space in France will be responsible for the satellite, its platform and integration with the instrument.

Image: MERLIN will study the varying concentrations of methane gas in Earth’s atmosphere. Photo: courtesy of Airbus DS GmbH.