Aeolus liftoff replay

ESA’s Earth Explorer Aeolus satellite lifted off on a Vega rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, at 21:20 GMT (23:20 CEST, 18:20 local time) on 22 August 2018. Aeolus carries one of the most sophisticated instruments ever to be put into orbit. The first of its kind, the Aladin instrument includes revolutionary laser technology to generate pulses of ultraviolet light that are beamed down into the atmosphere to profile the world’s winds – a completely new approach to measuring the wind from space. By profiling the lowermost 30 km of the atmosphere, Aeolus will give scientists global information on the speed of the wind in near-real time. This will improve our understanding of how wind, pressure, temperature and humidity are interlinked. This new mission will also provide insight into how the wind influences the exchange of heat and moisture between Earth’s surface and the atmosphere. These aspects are important for understanding climate change. As well as advancing science and improving weather forecasts, data from Aeolus will be used in air-quality models to improve forecasts of dust and other airborne particles that affect public health.

[piranha]

Vega launches really are impressive!
Will we ever get one with an onboard camera?

[eldencw]

On the video it would also be nice to see altitude, speed, and on that launch I would love to see the G's that its pulling, dang that was fast!!

[tristanlaurent]

The fact that Aeolus lunch was reported because of to much wind is hilarious

[mziqbal]

Congratulations ♥. Aeolus mission is the historic one to unravel our Earth atmosphere and winds.

[grexursorum]

Vega is just nice to watch. This thing Maybe the most spectacular rocket to watch lift of. Its like an invisible gun would fire this thing upwards. Baaang and its running blazing fast in the sky.

[georgeknowles]

ESA launches. No fuss. No pandering to those who only look on these things just as entertainment, many of them just waiting to spout their messages of hate in support of their paranoid delusions about the Earth's shape. Just getting on with it efficiently and effectively.

[Pycho]

Liebe Franzosen, gebt doch endlich zu dass ihr Englisch könnt, das Gequake versaut den ganzen Start 😅

[swedendive]

Not SpaceX video quality but give ESA10 more years... then maybe