Airbus to Build UK's ESA Space Weather Satellite Vigil

The European Space Agency has awarded Airbus Defence and Space a €340 million contract to build the Vigil spacecraft, which will monitor the sun from the L-5 Lagrange point to provide early warnings of solar activity. Slated for a 2031 launch, Vigil will be Europe's first 24/7 operational space weather satellite, enhancing the lead time and detail of space weather warnings to protect critical infrastructure on Earth. The project will support over 150 jobs in the UK and involve international collaboration, including instruments from the US.