Photo: Airbus
The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Biomass satellite, built by Airbus, has departed from Toulouse and is en route to Kourou, French Guiana, ahead of its scheduled launch. Biomass is an Earth Explorer satellite designed to measure forest biomass from an...
To read the full article, please log in or enter your email below:
The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Biomass satellite, built by Airbus, has departed from Toulouse and is en route to Kourou, French Guiana, ahead of its scheduled launch.
Biomass is an Earth Explorer satellite designed to measure forest biomass from an altitude of 666 km to assess global carbon stocks and fluxes. It will carry the first space-based P-band synthetic aperture radar, providing detailed maps of tropical, temperate, and boreal forests.
Alain Fauré, Head of Space Systems at Airbus Defence and Space, stated: “Shipping this flagship mission is a major milestone after years of hard work and dedication from all our teams. 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.”
The satellite features a 12-by-15-metre deployable antenna to collect radar data, allowing scientists to monitor changes in forest biomass, including losses from logging and burning, as well as regrowth—information that is not accessible through ground measurements.
Engineers from Airbus in Stevenage, where the satellite was built, led testing in Toulouse with support from teams in Friedrichshafen and across the industrial network. Over 50 companies from 20 countries contributed to the project. A separate team is overseeing the ground calibration transponder, which will be based in New Norcia, Australia.
Biomass is set to launch in April 2025 aboard a Vega-C rocket and is expected to operate for five years.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), the world leader in unmanned aircraft from the iconic Predator to the YFQ-42A Collaborative…
Airbus has had a hugely successful week, racking up almost US $21 billion in deals and contracts at the Paris…
MTU Aero Engines closed its participation at this year’s edition of the Paris Air Show with record engine orders worth…
Indian state-owned airframer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has entered into an agreement with Safran Aircraft Engines, for the industrialization and…
Lockheed Martin Skunk Works and Electra.aero, Inc. have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore opportunities for Electra's EL9 ultra-short…
As demand grows and talent pipeline pressures mount, the need to drive at least 30 to 40 per cent greater…
With airframers not able to meet production targets this year and unlikely to do so in the next two years…
Leonardo and Avioane Craiova have signed a "Technological and Industrial Cooperation Agreement" during the Paris Air Show, aimed at deepening…
De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited has confirmed the sale of one Twin Otter Classic 300-G aircraft to the United…
The French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) has selected Daher as one of five companies to develop a Medium Altitude Long…
The Norwegian Air Ambulance has entered into a new frame contract with Airbus for up to eight H145 helicopters, including…
Eve Air Mobility has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Future Flight Global, a pioneer in electric aircraft, for…
EGYPTAIR has disclosed a firm order for an additional six A350-900s as part of its expansion strategy to meet growing…
Embraer has received a firm order from SkyWestfor 60 aircraft with purchase rights on 50 additional aircraft. Deliveries of the…
Four French aerospace companies - Daher, Safran, Collins Aerospace and Ascendance - are joining hands to study and define a…
The French defence procurement agency, Direction générale de l'armement (DGA), has inked a joint declaration of intent with Saab regarding…
Airbus Helicopters and Leonardo announced at the ongoing Paris Air Show that they would join forces to carry out an…
Sikorsky and CAE announced at Le Bourget on the third day of the Paris Air Show that they would be…
Aerospace and national security company, SNC, and Lufthansa Technik have announced a strategic partnership to enhance their combined capabilities in…
STARLUX Airlines of Taiwan has signed a firm order with Airbus for the purchase of ten additional A350-1000 aircraft, taking…
The Ministry of National Defence of Lithuania has chosen the Embraer C-390 Millennium as the country’s next-generation military transport aircraft.…
Embraer signed Component Pool Program contracts with multiple airlines on the third day of the ongoing Paris Air Show. Currently,…
Embraer and Amelia, an airline operated by the France based Regourd Aviation Group, has signed an extensive services agreement, including…
Embraer and CAE are expanding their full-flight simulator network with the deployment of a state-of-the-art E2 full-flight simulator (FFS) at…
Airbus and MTU Aero Engines have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance hydrogen fuel cell propulsion technology, a…
Lockheed Martin has confirmed a major advancement in the structural longevity of its C-130J Super Hercules, following a wing durability…
Airlink, Southern Africa’s leading full-service carrier, has announced plans to lease 10 new Embraer E195-E2 aircraft from Azorra, a US-based…
Dassault Aviation and Reliance Aerostructure Ltd (RAL), a subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure, unveiled a strategic partnership to manufacture Falcon 2000…
In a move to bolster European defence capabilities, Quantum Systems and Airbus Defence and Space have signed a Memorandum of…
Air Astana Group carriers have continued their winning streak at the 2025 Skytrax World Airline Awards, held during the Paris…
Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.
Copyright 2024. GBP. All Rights Reserved.
Home Defence & Security Space Commercial Aviation Maintence Repair & Overhaul Daily News Events About Us
2025 GBP all rights reserved.