TOULOUSE, France - Airbus in Toulouse, France, announced that Biomass, the European Space Agency’s (ESA) satellite, has left Toulouse for its journey by ship to Kourou, French Guiana, where it is poised for launch. Biomass, an Earth Explorer satellite, represents ESA’s flagship mission to measure forest biomass and assess carbon stocks and fluxes from an altitude of 666 kilometers (414 miles). It will carry the first space-based P-band synthetic aperture radar, designed to create highly accurate global maps of tropical, temperate, and boreal forest biomass.
P-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR), which operates at a wavelength capable of penetrating forest canopies to measure tree biomass and structure. This radar system will generate high-resolution 3D maps of tropical, temperate, and boreal forests, offering insights into global carbon storage.
The satellite also features a 12-meter deployable antenna, one of the largest ever used in space for this type of mission. This antenna captures reflected radar signals from forests, allowing for precise measurements of biomass density. In addition, Biomass employs sophisticated signal processing techniques to filter out interference and extract accurate data. The radar operates in tomographic mode, enabling it to construct detailed 3D images of forests from multiple viewing angles.
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"Shipping this flagship mission is a major milestone after years of hard work and dedication from all our teams," said Alain Fauré, head of space systems at Airbus Defence and Space. "The satellite’s groundbreaking technology will enable climatologists to accurately assess carbon stocks and fluxes from space and improve the understanding of the part that forests play in regulating climate."
Engineers from Airbus’ Stevenage, U.K., site led the testing campaign in Toulouse, with support from teams in Germany and across 20 countries. Biomass will launch aboard a Vega-C rocket and operate in orbit for five years.
