Probe designed to study how clouds affect Earth’s climate launched into space

The probe will help scientists understand how clouds and aerosols such as dust and smoke play a role in heating and cooling the Earth’s atmosphere

EarthCARE will circle Earth every 90 minutes at an altitude of around 400km (ESA TV screengrab)

A satellite that will look inside clouds to help make more accurate weather forecasts and climate predictions has been launched into space.

EarthCARE blasted off on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.