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ESA’s Biomass Satellite Nears Launch After Successful Fuelling
As the countdown to the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Biomass satellite launch progresses, experts have reached a significant milestone by completing the complex and hazardous fuelling process. This pivotal step has been accomplished in preparation for the satellite’s scheduled liftoff on April 29.
Once in orbit, this ESA Earth Explorer mission aims to demonstrate innovative technology that will yield essential insights into the condition of forests, their changes over time, and their vital role in the carbon cycle. The satellite has been undergoing testing at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana since March 10 and is set to launch aboard a Vega-C rocket.
A Hazardous Process
One of the key achievements was the careful loading of 132 kilograms of volatile fuel into the satellite. This fuel will enable the satellite to perform complex maneuvers necessary for collecting important data on forest ecosystems.
Michael Fehringer, ESA’s Project Manager for Biomass, expressed gratitude to the entire team involved in the preparations, stating, “Everything has been progressing well here at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou.” He emphasized the hazards associated with the fuelling process, which required a specialized team from European-Astrotech-Ltd to ensure safety, with others vacating the cleanroom during this phase.
Stefan Kiryenko, ESA Launch Campaign Manager, added, “I’m pleased to report that the fuelling went smoothly and Biomass is now fully loaded. The next step will be to attach it to the launch adapter and then secure it within the Vega-C rocket’s fairing.”
Detecting Biomass in Forests
The Biomass satellite is notable for being the first to utilize a P-band synthetic aperture radar, a state-of-the-art instrument capable of penetrating dense forest canopies. This technology can accurately measure the woody trunks, branches, and stems, which are critical for assessing carbon storage.
The data gathered by Biomass will empower scientists to evaluate forest carbon stocks and fluxes in relation to land use changes, deforestation, and forest regeneration. This information is crucial for understanding forest vitality and monitoring changes over time, which are indispensable for clarifying the complexities of the carbon cycle.
Forests play an essential role in mitigating atmospheric carbon dioxide levels through photosynthesis and by storing carbon in various parts of their structure. However, uncertainties persist regarding the total carbon sequestered in global forests and the dynamics influencing these stocks. Factors such as climate change, rising carbon dioxide concentrations, and human activities, including agriculture and urban development, complicate these dynamics.
ESA’s Biomass mission seeks to clarify these uncertainties. By providing vital data on changes in carbon storage linked to land use and forestry practices, the mission aims to enhance our understanding of forests’ contribution to the global carbon cycle. The Biomass satellite is scheduled to launch on April 29 at 11:15 CEST (06:15 Kourou time).
Source
www.esa.int