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ESA’s Biomass Mission Launch: Scheduled for April 29, 2025, aboard a Vega C rocket from Korou Spaceport, French Guiana.
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Orbit: Sun-synchronous orbit at 666 km altitude for consistent Earth observation.
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Objective: To produce the first comprehensive global measurements of forest biomass. Addresses a severe lack of planetary-scale forest biomass data.
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Significance: Will map forests, track changes, and improve understanding of the global carbon cycle, deforestation, and climate change. Forests store 861 gigatonnes of carbon and absorb 16 billion metric tonnes of CO₂ annually.
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Urgency: In 2023, 3.7
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Biomass Mission
Technology: Uses a 12-meter antenna and P-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), the first of its kind in space. P-band SAR penetrates dense canopies for 3D forest imaging.
Carbon Measurement: Measures carbon stored in the canopy and on the forest floor, assessing biomass and carbon content changes.
Climate Action Support: Provides data for REDD+ initiatives and monitors illegal logging.
Beyond Forests: Will also observe ice sheet movement in Antarctica and generate digital terrain models.
Understanding the Carbon Cycle: Aims to measure how carbon distribution changes as humans cut down trees and increase atmospheric CO2. Knowing the carbon balance flowing to/from the atmosphere is crucial.