SOVA-S was successful in a highly competitive call and will be the fourth mission in the ESA Scout programme. The mission is being coordinated by the Czech space company OHB Czechspace. Scientists from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Universities of Augsburg and Greifswald will make a decisive contribution to the success of the project.
The mission focuses on so-called atmospheric gravity waves. These waves are caused by e.g. thunderstorms, mountain ranges or wind shear and influence the circulation of the atmosphere up to altitudes in excess of 100 kilometres. SOVA-S will use a measurement method to record two-dimensional images of hydroxyl emissions (OH) and derive global temperature fields in the upper mesosphere. The data obtained will facilitate a more profound comprehension of fundamental atmospheric processes. Gravity waves are one of the main reasons why temperatures above the summer pole at an altitude of around 80 to 90 kilometres are significantly lower than above the winter pole - even though the sun shines there constantly.
Prof. Dr. Christian von Savigny from the University of Greifswald’s Institute of Physics played a pivotal role in the scientific preparation of the project. He presided over the panel of scientific experts that accompanied the mission proposal during the selection procedure. "We are delighted that the SOVA-S mission has been selected. The mission will facilitate the continuous and global observation of gravity waves in the upper mesosphere for a period of at least two, but hopefully five years from 2030 onwards," says Prof. Dr. Christian von Savigny. The overall scientific responsibility for the mission is held by Prof. Dr. Michael Bittner and PD Dr. Sabine Wüst from the University of Augsburg.
With a maximum total budget of 35 million euros and a development period of just three years, ESA scout missions are among the most innovative and efficiently implemented space projects in Europe. SOVA-S will make a significant contribution to atmospheric research and, at the same time, enhance the visibility of German research within the European space sector.
Further information
ESA’s webpages on SOVA-S
Webpages on SOVA-S at OHB Czechspace
Contact at the University of Greifswald
Prof. Dr. Christian von Savigny
Institute of Physics
Felix-Hausdorff-Straße 6, 17489 Greifswald
Tel.: +49 3834 420 4720
christian.vonsavignyuni-greifswaldde