Latest news with #SimonettaCheli
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
The launch of ESA's Biomass: A European leap into Earth observation
Over 95 per cent of French Guiana - a French overseas department nestled between Brazil and Suriname - is covered in tropical forests, a wild, thick, humid ecosystem found in regions near the equator. Tropical forests play an important role in mitigating climate change, as they absorb a great share of the carbon dioxide (CO2) stored in terrestrial biomass. However, quantifying exactly how much CO2 these forests absorb is challenging, as their dense canopies make them almost impenetrable. Related ESA successfully launches Biomass, the satellite set to unlock the secrets of the world's forests But the answer to these doubts might come from French Guiana itself. Blasting off from Europe's spaceport in Kourou on April 29, the European Space Agency (ESA) launched Biomass into orbit, a satellite designed to measure the amount of carbon tropical forests store. Euronews Tech Talks was on site for the liftoff. In the first of two special episodes dedicated to the satellite, the podcast looks back at the eve of the launch to explore the satellite, the people working on it, and how they felt ahead of the crucial launch day. Biomass is the seventh mission of ESA's Future EO programme, a series of projects based on proposals from scientists to test new technologies and analyse specific aspects of our planet. In the case of Biomass, its standout feature is its P-band radar, a technology never used before in space. The P-band instrument, which resembles an umbrella, sends low-frequency signals that penetrate the canopy and bounce back to the satellite, providing data on the quantity of carbon stored and its location within the trees. Related ESA launches EarthCARE satellite to study the impact of clouds on climate change This instrument will not replace on-the-ground research on tropical forests, but it will provide essential data to understand their role in carbon flows. In fact, grasping how much carbon is stored in terrestrial biomass can help researchers determine the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. "It's not just scientifically relevant, but it also has real value for all of us citizens," Simonetta Cheli, ESA director of Earth observation programmes, told Euronews. "It contributes to a healthier planet, to improving our health and the quality of the air we breathe," she continued. To organise and conduct the mission, ESA relied on the support of multiple European actors. The satellite was manufactured by Airbus Defence and Space, and launched into orbit by the Vega C. The rocket's components were produced across 13 ESA member states, with the Italian company Avio serving as the lead contractor and design authority of the project. "It took us years to get here, but now we're able to offer a range of launch capabilities that can meet practically any need in Europe," Giulio Ranzo, CEO of Avio, told Euronews. Related T-Minus Ariane 6: Inside Europe's critical mission to reclaim space autonomy The other two important players in the project are Arianespace and CNES, the French space agency. The former oversaw the launch and is responsible for the commercial exploitation of the launcher. The latter contributed to the research behind the satellite's development, managed the launch campaign, and is involved in collecting data from the satellite in orbit. All these actors worked together for over a decade to prepare the satellite and its launch into space, a challenging move due to the ambitious novelty of the P-band radar. Related Europe's space sector to soon welcome Ariane 6: 'The missions will be longer and more versatile' On April 28, the day before the launch, Kourou spaceport welcomed representatives, professionals and journalists looking forward to witnessing Biomass's lift-off. In the Jupiter Centre, one of the main buildings in the space facility housing the Mission Control Room, the air was filled with a shared sense of anticipation. Some people were rational, including Jean-Frédéric Alasa, launch range operations director at CNES. "We're always excited to launch because it's the end of a long phase of preparation," he told Euronews. "But we also consider the situation in which we have a failure, because a launch is complicated". Others were driven by a determined optimism. "We are very confident, it will work, and it will be useful for all of us," Michael Fehringer, Biomass project manager, told Euronews. But how did the launch go? To find out more, listen to this episode of Euronews Tech Talks and to the next one, out on May 28.
Euronews
15-05-2025
- Science
- Euronews
ESA's Biomass launch: A European leap into Earth observation
Over 95 per cent of French Guiana - a French overseas department nestled between Brazil and Suriname - is covered in tropical forests, a wild, thick, humid ecosystem found in regions near the equator. Tropical forests play an important role in mitigating climate change, as they absorb a great share of the carbon dioxide (CO2) stored in terrestrial biomass. However, quantifying exactly how much CO2 these forests absorb is challenging, as their dense canopies make them almost impenetrable. But the answer to these doubts might come from French Guiana itself. Blasting off from Europe's spaceport in Kourou on April 29, the European Space Agency (ESA) launched Biomass into orbit, a satellite designed to measure the amount of carbon tropical forests store. Euronews Tech Talks was on site for the liftoff. In the first of two special episodes dedicated to the satellite, the podcast looks back at the eve of the launch to explore the satellite, the people working on it, and how they felt ahead of the crucial launch day. Biomass is the seventh mission of ESA's Future EO programme, a series of projects based on proposals from scientists to test new technologies and analyse specific aspects of our planet. In the case of Biomass, its standout feature is its P-band radar, a technology never used before in space. The P-band instrument, which resembles an umbrella, sends low-frequency signals that penetrate the canopy and bounce back to the satellite, providing data on the quantity of carbon stored and its location within the trees. This instrument will not replace on-the-ground research on tropical forests, but it will provide essential data to understand their role in carbon flows. In fact, grasping how much carbon is stored in terrestrial biomass can help researchers determine the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. "It's not just scientifically relevant, but it also has real value for all of us citizens," Simonetta Cheli, ESA director of Earth observation programmes, told Euronews. "It contributes to a healthier planet, to improving our health and the quality of the air we breathe," she continued. To organise and conduct the mission, ESA relied on the support of multiple European actors. The satellite was manufactured by Airbus Defence and Space, and launched into orbit by the Vega C. The rocket's components were produced across 13 ESA member states, with the Italian company Avio serving as the lead contractor and design authority of the project. "It took us years to get here, but now we're able to offer a range of launch capabilities that can meet practically any need in Europe," Giulio Ranzo, CEO of Avio, told Euronews. The other two important players in the project are Arianespace and CNES, the French space agency. The former oversaw the launch and is responsible for the commercial exploitation of the launcher. The latter contributed to the research behind the satellite's development, managed the launch campaign, and is involved in collecting data from the satellite in orbit. All these actors worked together for over a decade to prepare the satellite and its launch into space, a challenging move due to the ambitious novelty of the P-band radar. On April 28, the day before the launch, Kourou spaceport welcomed representatives, professionals and journalists looking forward to witnessing Biomass's lift-off. In the Jupiter Centre, one of the main buildings in the space facility housing the Mission Control Room, the air was filled with a shared sense of anticipation. Some people were rational, including Jean-Frédéric Alasa, launch range operations director at CNES. "We're always excited to launch because it's the end of a long phase of preparation," he told Euronews. "But we also consider the situation in which we have a failure, because a launch is complicated". Others were driven by a determined optimism. "We are very confident, it will work, and it will be useful for all of us," Michael Fehringer, Biomass project manager, told Euronews. But how did the launch go? To find out more, listen to this episode of Euronews Tech Talks and to the next one, out on May 28.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Watch flower-like antenna of European forest-watching satellite 'bloom' in space (video)
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The huge antenna for the newly launched Biomass forest-monitoring satellite has been successfully deployed, the European Space Agency (ESA) announced on Wednesday (May 7). The multi-day deployment was the final hurdle for the mission's launch and early operations stage, which ESA says should be completed soon. "I'm delighted to see Biomass successfully deploy its remarkable antenna — a major milestone for one of our most pioneering Earth Explorer missions," Simonetta Cheli, director of ESA's Earth Observation Programmes, said in a statement. The Biomass satellite launched April 29 atop a Vega-C rocket from French Guiana. Designed to provide "unprecedented insights into the world's forests and their vital role in Earth's carbon cycle," Biomass went through a few in-orbit checks before deploying a supporting boom for the antenna. After the boom was fully extended, the team deployed the mesh antenna reflector, which "essentially unfolds like an umbrella above the satellite," ESA's Stefan Kiryenko, who was responsible for deploying the antenna reflector, said in the same statement. With the 39-foot-wide (12 meters) antenna in place, the mission will soon enter its commissioning phase, in which the team will fine-tune the satellite's systems. ESA expects this process to last around six months. "With this achievement, we're another significant step closer to unlocking unprecedented knowledge about the world's forests, including crucial data on carbon stocks and fluxes — fundamental to understanding and managing Earth's carbon cycle," Cheli said. Related stories: — Vega-C rocket launches European forest-monitoring 'Biomass' satellite to orbit (video) — NASA satellite sees overheated tropical forests oozing with carbon dioxide — Climate change: Causes and effects Onboard Biomass is a P-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) instrument. It's a type of radar that can penetrate vegetation, like the canopy of a forest. This is the first time such an instrument has been launched to space, according to mission team members. The antenna reflector will send the radar's "footprint" to Earth, then receive a return signal with data on the carbon content of forests. ESA will use the data Biomass collects to understand more about the current state of our forests and how they are changing. Biomass is a part of ESA's "Earth Explorers" satellite series. "These missions, developed through our FutureEO research and development programme, are designed to demonstrate cutting-edge space technologies and deliver exceptional insights about our planet," Cheli said.
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
European Space Agency launched Biomass satellite to monitor forests and climatic studies
Source: ESA Earth's forests are pivotal to keeping our planet habitable. Freely referred to as the "lungs of the Earth," they blanket about one-third of the globe and have a significant function to play in modifying the weather. Forests also take in enormous quantities of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the air — approximately 7.6 billion metric tons each year, NASA says — and emit oxygen, which makes life on Earth viable. ESA launched Biomass satellite to study forest carbon estimation According to ESA, to meet this challenge Biomass satellite is deployed into orbit on 29 April 2025 Tuesday aboard a Vega-C rocket from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, at 11:15 CEST (06:15 local time). ESA's Biomass mission launches on Vega-C by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo The mission represents a giant leap in monitoring forests and climate studies. Biomass is the first satellite to be equipped with a P-band synthetic aperture radar — a technology that can penetrate deep into forest canopies and show detailed, three-dimensional structures of the trees beneath. Imagine it as an Earth-sized MRI machine. By taking the density and structure of tree trunks, branches, and stems, Biomass will enable scientists to estimate the amount of carbon in forests as well as how much is emitted. Biomass separates from Vega-C Why forest monitoring is becoming increasingly urgent Though essential, forests are being increasingly threatened by human action. Deforestation, land degradation, and even increasing fires are diminishing their capacity to sequester CO₂. Hence, forests in most places — particularly tropical forests — are starting to emit more carbon than they lock away, fueling global warming. Tracking how forests react to increasing levels of greenhouse gases and environmental stressors is tricky. Thick forest cover and dense vegetation hinder the measurement of forest health on the ground or even using conventional satellite imagery. Biomass satellite measuring forest carbon to track climate change "With Biomass, we are set to harvest critical new information about the amount of carbon held in forests around the globe, which will help to close important knowledge gaps regarding the carbon cycle and, in the end, Earth's climate system," explained Simonetta Cheli, ESA's Director of Earth Observation Programmes. This data is critical. Standing forests have a tendency to retain more carbon than they release. But because of extensive deforestation and forest loss, most forests — especially those in the Amazon and Southeast Asia — have reversed from being carbon sinks to becoming carbon sources. "This new mission will enhance our capability to measure forest carbon stocks and fluxes, which is at the heart of understanding and estimating the effects of climate change," said Michael Fehringer, ESA's Biomass Project Manager. Biomass satellite to track forest carbon The satellite was produced with the involvement of 50 partner companies, including project lead Airbus UK. In the days ahead, mission controllers will check that the satellite's systems are working as they should. Once operational, Biomass will start generating 3D maps of forest biomass and carbon distribution, enabling scientists to better understand the changing role of forests in the global carbon cycle. As climate change speeds up and forest health declines, accurate, real-time data is more important than ever. Biomass will enable scientists, policymakers, and conservationists to know where and how to intervene — whether it's safeguarding carbon-dense forests or quantifying the actual effect of deforestation. The mission won't halt climate change by itself, but it might be an essential component in the worldwide effort to slow its impact. Also Read | Where does gold really come from? NASA data reveals the shocking truth
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
New Biomass satellite will provide an unprecedented look at the planet's forests
Earth's forests play a critical role in keeping our planet habitable. Often called the "lungs of the Earth," forests cover nearly one-third of the planet and absorb vast amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. They also produce oxygen so we can breathe. According to NASA, forests worldwide absorb about 7.6 billion metric tons of CO2 each year. MORE: How global warming could threaten satellites, according to new study But that's just an estimate because human industrial activities continue to put more Earth-warning greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Understanding how our forests respond to the increases in greenhouse gas emissions and threats to their existence, such as deforestation and wildfires, is challenging because of the dense vegetation and hard-to-penetrate canopies. That's about that change. On Tuesday, the European Space Agency (ESA) put its Biomass satellite into orbit. Biomass is carrying the first P-band synthetic aperture radar in space. You can think of it like an MRI machine designed to provide 3D maps of the planet's forests. The radar can penetrate deep into the vegetation and provide scientists with data about the state of our forests, how they are absorbing and emitting carbon and how human activities like deforestation and wildfires are changing their behaviors. "With Biomass, we are poised to gain vital new data on how much carbon is stored in the world's forests, helping to fill key gaps in our knowledge of the carbon cycle and, ultimately, Earth's climate system," Simonetta Cheli, ESA director of earth observation programmes, said in a statement. MORE: Satellite appears to show new highway cutting through Brazil's Amazon rainforest When left untouched, forests store more carbon than they emit. But because of human-driven land use changes, such as degradation and deforestation, especially in tropical areas, forests are releasing more and more carbon back into the atmosphere, making climate change worse. "This new mission will advance our ability to quantify forest carbon stocks and fluxes, which is key to understanding and assessing the impacts of climate change," ESA Biomass project manager Michael Fehringer said in a statement. The Biomass satellite will measure the trunks, branches and stems of the trees that populate the planet's forests. ESA says these measurements will serve as a proxy for determining carbon storage, which is the key goal of the mission. MORE: California coastal community shifts 4 inches closer to the ocean each week: NASA According to ESA, 50 companies, including project lead Airbus UK, contributed to developing the satellite. Mission controllers will spend the coming days verifying that the satellite is functioning correctly and that all its systems are working as intended. Once in operation, the mission will take five-and-a-half years to complete. New Biomass satellite will provide an unprecedented look at the planet's forests originally appeared on
