Biomass satellite to lift off aboard Vega C in late April
illustration only
Biomass satellite to lift off aboard Vega C in late April
by Erica Marchand
Paris, France (SPX) Mar 26, 2025
On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 6:15 a.m. local time (09:15 a.m. UTC, 11:15 a.m. CEST), Arianespace will launch ESA's Biomass Earth Explorer satellite aboard a Vega C rocket from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. Designated flight VV26, the mission aims to deliver the satellite into a Sun-Synchronous Orbit approximately 666 kilometers above Earth. The satellite will separate from the launcher 57 minutes after lift-off.
The European Space Agency's Earth Explorer program is renowned for producing world-class scientific data on Earth's dynamic systems. Forests, which absorb about 8 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, play a critical role in climate regulation. However, deforestation and degradation, particularly in tropical regions, are reversing this benefit by releasing stored carbon back into the atmosphere. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of this process is key to assessing broader climate impacts.
Biomass is equipped with the first P-band synthetic aperture radar ever flown in space. With a wavelength of roughly 70 centimeters, the radar can penetrate dense forest canopies, allowing it to assess forest structure and measure carbon content. The mission will monitor forest height and biomass distribution over time, offering valuable insight into carbon storage and ecological changes.
Beyond tracking forest biomass, the satellite will also provide data on subsurface geological formations in deserts, internal ice sheet structures, and forest floor topography. Built by Airbus Defence and Space, Biomass is designed for a mission duration of at least five years. During this period, it will observe a minimum of eight forest growth cycles.
These comprehensive measurements will not only enhance understanding of the global carbon cycle but also shed light on habitat loss rates and their potential effects on forest biodiversity.
Related Links
Biomass
Earth Observation News - Suppiliers, Technology and Application
Planet collaborates with ESA to advance Greek satellite services
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Mar 25, 2025
Planet Labs PBC (NYSE: PL), a key player in delivering daily Earth observation data, has entered a new agreement with the European Space Agency (ESA) to support Greece's National SmallSat Programme. This initiative, led by the Hellenic Ministry of Digital Governance and financed through the Recovery and Resilience Fund (RRF) Greece 2.0, will utilize Planet's commercial satellite data to bolster the country's satellite technology capabilities. The arrangement allows Greece to employ PlanetScope dat ... read more
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.
