ESA’s Airbus Biomass satellite travels to Kourou

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The European Space Agency’s (ESA) biomass satellite, built by Airbus, has begun its journey from Toulouse to Kourou, French Guiana. This mission aims to make precise measurements of forest biomass and provide a better understanding of carbon flows and stocks.

Biomass measurement flagship mission

The Earth Explorer satellite Biomass is being launched by ESA as a flagship mission to measure global forest biomass. Equipped with a unique P-band radar, the satellite is ready to create precise maps of tropical, temperate and boreal forests to assess terrestrial carbon stocks from 666 kilometers above sea level.

Technological innovation at Airbus

Airbus has taken on a technological pioneering role with the development of the biomass satellite. A 12 x 15 meter extendable antenna will collect reflected SAR data to create accurate global maps, shedding new light on the impacts of deforestation and wildfires. The project brings significant advances in satellite-based environmental monitoring.

Biomass satellite International cooperation in the foreground

More than 50 companies from 20 countries were involved in the development of the Biomass Satellite, making it an example of international cooperation. Airbus engineers in Stevenage led the successful tests in Toulouse and worked closely with teams from Germany to carefully prepare for the upcoming orbital deployment.

Future prospects and next steps

The Biomass satellite is scheduled to launch in April 2025 using the Vega-C rocket. The satellite will operate in orbit for five years, providing valuable data to support global climate research. A separate set of teams will maintain the ground calibration transponder in Australia to ensure the accuracy of data collection.

Airbus Defense and Space is a leader in aerospace with a clear focus on innovation and collaboration. Through crucial projects such as the Biomass Satellite, the company is setting new standards in space-based science and contributing to a deeper understanding of environmental and climate dynamics.