At exactly 11:15:52 Italian time, the #VegaC rocket lifted off on schedule from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, carrying Biomass, ESA’s new, groundbreaking Earth Explorer mission.
Rising into the dawn-lit sky, Vega C placed its precious payload into a 666 km orbit. Over the next five years, Biomass will deliver an unprecedented 3D view of tropical, temperate, and boreal #forests, quantifying their true role in the global carbon cycle, a key variable for understanding and forecasting climate change.
How will Biomass reshape our understanding of forests?
They are among the most crucial carbon sinks on our Planet, even if uncertainties remain in our understanding of the global carbon cycle. Biomass will bridge this knowledge gap, offering critical data for climate models and supporting United Nations efforts to reduce emissions from #deforestation and #forestdegradation.
Equipped with the first P-band synthetic aperture radar, Biomass will provide highly accurate maps of forests and monitor at least eight growth cycles across the world.
OHB Italia S.p.A. role in this breakthrough mission?
Our company designed and developed the #StructuralSubsystem of the Biomass satellite, ensuring the integrity and resilience of this Earth observation powerhouse. Our expertise has been fundamental in bringing this mission to life, reinforcing our commitment to pioneering space solutions for environmental #sustainability.
This is a great step forward in #EarthObservation.
By pushing the boundaries of remote sensing, Biomass shows how space technology can transform our understanding of Earth’s ecosystems. We are proud to contribute to a mission that will advance #ClimateScience and provide essential data for global sustainability efforts.
Stay tuned for more updates!
#ESA #Biomass #VegaC #SustainableFuture #SpaceExploration
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