Biomass Mission

Current Context: The European Space Agency (ESA) is set to launch its Biomass Mission on April 29, 2025, aimed at accurately measuring global forest biomass and understanding its role in the carbon cycle — a critical step in tracking climate change.

About

• It is the 7th Earth Explorer mission under ESA’s Earth Observation Programme.
• The satellite will be the first to carry a P-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), capable of penetrating forest canopies to map biomass.

Objective

• To quantify the amount of carbon stored in forests worldwide.
• To fill gaps in biomass and forest height data, essential for climate models and carbon budgeting.
• To support international frameworks like REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation).

Key Technical Details

• Orbit Type: Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO)
• Altitude: 666 km
• Radar Type: P-band SAR – penetrates dense forests for accurate 3D biomass mapping
• Additional Capability: Monitoring ice sheet movement in Antarctica; creating 3D models of heavily forested terrains.