BackForward Satellite Programme: The Earth’s Magnetic Field and Environment Explorers 

Programme details
Programme description
  • System of 3 satellites in coordinated orbits for magnetospheric research. 
  • Earth Explorer opportunity mission in the framework of the ESA Living Planet programme.  Developed and operated by ESA.
  • 3-axis stabilised platforms.
  • The design life time of the satellites is 4 years.
  • All 3 spacecrafts in high-inclination drifting orbits.  Two spacecrafts very close to each other in the same orbit, the 3rd one in a slighty higher orbit.
  • See detailed description at http://www.esa.int/esaLP/ESA3QZJE43D_LPswarm_1.html.
Data circulation
  • Data stored onboard and downlinked to the Kiruna station.
  • Data processing and distribution from the Payload Data Ground Segment (PDGS) at ESA/ESRIN (Frascati, Rome).
Agencies ESA , CNES, CSA
Programme lifetime 2013 - 2025
Associated satellites and instruments

Note: red tag => no longer operational , green tag => operational , blue tag => planned