Why Space Weather Matters and How Vigil Will Help Monitor It

Weather isn't just an Earthly concern; it also plays a role in space. To improve forecasting, Airbus is designing and building the satellite for ESA’s space weather mission Vigil. But what is space weather and why is it important?

When we think of weather, we usually think of sun, rain and snow. But did you know that there is a form of weather that extends far beyond the Earth? In fact, space has its own dynamic and often unpredictable weather, driven by the Sun.

To improve our ability to forecast and mitigate its effects, the European Space Agency (ESA) is preparing Vigil—the first dedicated space weather monitoring satellite positioned at the Sun-Earth L5 Lagrange point.

Designed, developed, and built by Airbus Defence and Space in Stevenage, UK, the Vigil satellite will be positioned at a unique vantage point to observe solar activity before it impacts Earth, offering crucial early warnings.