The Arctic Observing Mission (AOM): A high priority candidate mission for the Government of Canada

Abstract. The Arctic Observing Mission (AOM) is a satellite mission concept under study by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), in partnership with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). AOM would use two satellites in a highly elliptical orbit (HEO) to enable frequent observations of meteorological variables, greenhouse gases (GHGs), air quality (AQ) and space weather over northern regions, reaching beyond the usable viewing range of geostationary satellites. These new rapid-revisit observations over the North would address key spatio-temporal gaps in the Global Observing System so that services similar to those available from geostationary satellites would then be extended to the circumpolar Arctic region. AOM observations are important for operational activities, environmental monitoring and prediction, and scientific research aligned with the Government of Canada priority of enhancing Arctic and northern situational awareness and security. This paper reviews some technical, policy and programmatic aspects of AOM, describing the proposed orbit and expected coverage, the instrument payloads and main data products, and ends with a brief discussion on the path to space.