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The European House Company’s seventh Earth Explorer mission, Biomass, launched on Tuesday aboard an Arianespace Vega-C rocket. Biomass, which is able to research Earth’s forests and their impression on the planet’s local weather, lifted off from Kourou, French Guiana, at 09:15 UTC (6:15 AM native time).
The Earth Explorer missions are a part of the Residing Planet Programme (LPP), managed by the Earth Statement Programmes Directorate of the European House Company (ESA). These missions are devoted to using progressive applied sciences to assist scientists acquire a deeper understanding of our world. Chosen in Might 2013 from three candidate missions, Biomass will use artificial aperture radar (SAR) to measure the biomass of forests with a selected concentrate on Earth’s tropical areas.
📺 Watch dwell: the launch of @ESA_EO‘s Biomass mission on Vega-C #VV26, liftoff scheduled for 29 April, 10.15 BST/11.15 CEST. #ESAwebTV protection begins 09.55 BST/10.55 CEST. Extra particulars 👇https://t.co/u2Eb9ttKGT
— European House Company (@esa) April 25, 2025
Whereas satellite-mounted SAR payloads are comparatively frequent, ESA describes the instrument aboard Biomass as the primary P-band radar for use in house. This refers back to the a part of the electromagnetic spectrum through which it operates, with P-band being another identify for a portion of the ultra-high frequency (UHF) band. The instrument aboard Biomass operates at a frequency of 435 megahertz, leading to an extended wavelength than SAR payloads in earlier missions, which have utilized higher-frequency elements of the spectrum, such because the L and X bands.
SAR is an active-scanning sensing expertise, the place the satellite tv for pc emits radio alerts which might be mirrored again from Earth’s floor. Profiting from the satellite tv for pc’s movement in orbit, intelligent processing strategies allow readings to be taken with a smaller antenna that will have required a a lot wider one if the satellite tv for pc have been stationary — therefore the “artificial aperture.”
Biomass after its arrival in Kourou. (Credit score: ESA/CNES/Arianespace)
On the Biomass mission, a mix of polarimetry and interferometry might be carried out utilizing the SAR payload. These depend on measuring the change in polarization of the radar sign and the interference between a number of waves. These strategies permit for an in depth image of the floor to be constructed up. The P-band radar aboard Biomass is vital to its mission, giving it the power to look by means of layers of vegetation and construct an in depth picture over time of how forests are structured — permitting the satellite tv for pc to actually see the wooden from the bushes.
This knowledge will permit scientists to construct a profile of the biomass in Earth’s forests, serving to refine estimates of how a lot carbon they retailer. It would additionally help in monitoring how forests are altering by means of processes resembling deforestation and regrowth. Different purposes embrace finding out the topology of the forest flooring, the construction of ice sheets, and the underlying construction of desert areas.
ESA chosen Airbus Defence and House because the prime contractor for Biomass, with building going down within the UK. Corporations from twenty ESA member nations have been concerned within the growth of the satellite tv for pc, with US and Canadian firms additionally contracted for elements. The radar imaging payload was constructed by Airbus in Germany, with the American agency L3Harris setting up its deployable 12 m reflector antenna. The satellite tv for pc has a mass of 1,131 kg and is anticipated to function for at the least 5 years in an orbit 666 km above Earth’s floor, inclined at 98 levels.
Arianespace launched Biomass utilizing its Vega-C rocket. Vega-C is a four-stage car that first flew in 2022 as an upgraded successor to the unique Vega, which accomplished 22 launches between February 2012 and September 2024. It’s the smaller of the 2 rockets operated by Arianespace, complementing the a lot bigger Ariane 6. Tuesday’s launch is designated VV26; it’s the fourth flight of Vega-C and the twenty sixth mission total for the Vega household.
Vega-C VV26 on the launch pad throughout payload mating operations. (Credit score: Arianespace)
All Vega-C rockets launch from the Zone de Lancement Vega (ZLV) on the Centre Spatial Guyanais (CSG) in Kourou, French Guiana. This was previously Ensemble de Lancement Ariane 1 (ELA-1), utilized by the Ariane 1, Ariane 2, and Ariane 3 rockets between 1979 and 1989, earlier than being rebuilt for Vega forward of its 2012 debut. ELA-1 was itself constructed on the positioning of an earlier launch pad, which had been constructed for the unsuccessful Europa launcher challenge.
The launch marketing campaign for Biomass and VV26 started on Feb. 28, when work to combine the decrease phases of the launch car commenced. The satellite tv for pc arrived in French Guiana on March 7 and was unpacked and loaded with propellant forward of its mating with Vega’s Vampire payload adaptor. On April 14, Biomass was encapsulated within the payload fairing that may defend it through the experience into house. The higher composite, together with the mated satellite tv for pc, adaptor, and fairing, was transported to the launch pad three days later and put in atop the rocket on April 18.
Vega-C consists of three solid-fuelled phases with a liquid propellant fourth stage to finish orbital insertion. As Arianespace conducts its countdown in French, the second of liftoff is known as “H0,” or “heure 0,” relatively than T0. At this second, the primary stage P120C motor will ignite and propel VV26 skyward. This stage will energy the ascent for roughly two and a half minutes, at which level the primary stage will separate, and the second stage’s Zefiro-40 will take over, adopted by the third stage, the Zefiro-9A. The payload fairing will separate early within the third stage burn.
As soon as the three solid-fueled phases accomplished their burns, the mission entered a short coast section because the mixed third stage, fourth stage, and payload continued to climb in the direction of the apogee — or highest level — of their trajectory. About seven minutes and 10 seconds after launch, the third stage separated, forward of fourth stage ignition on the eight-minute mark within the flight.
The fourth stage is the Perspective and Vernier Higher Module+ (AVUM+), outfitted with a restartable RD-843 engine. This stage accomplished three burns through the VV26 mission, with the second starting about 53 minutes after liftoff, following one other coast section. Biomass separated from its payload adaptor shortly after the top of this burn, with AVUM+’s third burn occurring nearly 50 minutes after spacecraft separation to make sure the secure disposal of the stage.
The Biomass launch follows Vega-C’s profitable return to flight in December on the VV25 mission. This ended a two-year hiatus after the failure of its earlier launch in December 2022. Vega-C remains to be in its qualification section, with ESA overseeing the challenge. Arianespace’s subsequent launch is anticipated to be one other Vega-C, VV27, in July, which is able to ship a four-satellite Earth imaging constellation to orbit for the French nationwide house company, CNES.
(Lead picture: Vega C launches Biomass from Guiana House Heart – Credit score: Arianespace)
