Following an announcement on 27 January 2019, QinetiQ is to build the ALTIUS (Atmospheric Limb Tracker for Investigation of the Upcoming Stratosphere) satellite for ESA. This project was initiated by the Royal Belgian Institute of Space Aeronomy, and accordingly most of its financing has come from Belgium. The construction contract is valued at EUR€75m (US$82.6m). The mission is planned to launch in 2023, from the European Spaceport, French Guiana, however, the specific launch vehicle has yet to be decided.
The mission is intended to monitor the levels and changes in stratospheric ozone. It will also keep track of other pollutants released in to the atmosphere.
The satellite will be based on their own P200 satellite platform. The mission will have a planned minimum life of 3 years.
