The Atmospheric Laser Doppler Instrument (ALADIN) is the payload of the ADM-AEOLUS mission, which will make direct measurements of global wind fields. It will determine the wind velocity component normal to the satellite velocity vector. The instrument is a direct detection Doppler Lidar operating in the UV, which will be the first of its kind in space.

ALADIN is now in its final construction stage: the integration of the Flight Model is on-going. Most of the subsystems have been integrated; the payload performance and qualification test campaign will commence.

This paper describes the ALADIN the development status and the results obtained at this stage. This regards the receiver performance, the telescope development and the challenges of the laser.

The paper will also provide insights on the ATLID instrument design which is the backscatter lidar for the EarthCARE mission. This lidar program is starting its detailed design phase.

The ALADIN and ATLID instruments are developed by EADS Astrium Satellites for the European Space Agency.