Europe aims to send a satellite equipped with a quantum sensor into orbit by 2030. This sensor will have the capability to accurately observe the Earth’s geological activity and predict volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.
The satellite will contain an atomic accelerometer, allowing for extremely precise measurements using cold atoms. This is a significant technological challenge for Europe, especially in the context of future missions focused on observing climate change in the coming decades.
Operating on an atomic scale, these quantum sensors open up new possibilities for observations due to their extreme sensitivity. Placed in a low-gravity orbit around 600 km from Earth, they are expected to be highly reliable.
This technology will enable monitoring of the Earth’s movements with unprecedented precision, from its gravitational field to the tracking of the water cycle and seismic activity. The sensors will also help in accurately measuring sea levels, ice melt, and underground water reserves.
Ultimately, the data collected through these sensors will aid in predicting natural disasters like volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, and also in managing the Earth’s resources sustainably by better understanding the impact of climate change.
France’s Centre national d’études spatiales (CNES), the German Space Agency (DLR), Airbus Defence & Space (ADS), GMV, and FORTH/PRAXI Network are partners in this European project, known as CARIOQA. – AFP Relaxnews
