june 2014 ieee Geoscience and remote sensing magazine Biomass EarthCARE 201 0 Th ird Proba-V Earth Explorer Missions driven by Scientific needs to advance our understanding of how the ocean, atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere and Earth's interior operate and interact as part of an interconnected system. These research missions, exploiting Europe's excellence in technological innovation, pave the way toward new development of future EO appplications. Sentinel-3A ADM-Aeolus Swarm CryoSat SMOS Sentinel-5P Sentinel-1B Sentinel-2B Sentinel-3B Sentinel-4 Sentinel-5 Sentinel-6 Sentinel-2A GOCE Proba-1 Sentinel Missions driven by user needs to contribute to European Copernicus intiative. These satellite missions developed in partnership with the EU include C-band imaging radar [Sentinel-1], high-resolution optical [Sentinel-2], optical and infrared radiometer [Sentinel-3] and atmospheric compostion monitoring capability [Sentinel-4 & Sentinel-5 onboard Met missions MTG and EPS-SG respectively]. MTG-S MetOp-SG MTG-I MetOp Family 2000 Sentinel-1A ERS-2 Envisat Meteosat Second Generation Meterological Missions driven mainly by weather forecasting and climate monitoring needs. These missions developed in partnership with EUMETSAT include the Meterological Operational satelite programme [MetOp], forming the space segment of EUMETSTAT's polar system [EPS], and the new generation of Geostationary Meteosat satellites [MSG & MTG satellites]. ERS-1 1990 r ty Pa Data from EOP Non-ESA Operated Missions Missions s ion ss i M Figure 1. ESA Missions overview. Meteosat Family 1980 2020 39