ESA's Biomass Satellite Mission: Weighing Forests from Space

Get ready, space and nature lovers! On April 29, 2025, the European Space Agency (ESA) is launching a fascinating new mission that’s all about saving our forests and understanding our planet better. It’s called ESA’s Biomass satellite mission, and it’s about to change how we see Earth’s green lungs — our forests — from space.

Why Care About Forests from Space?

Did you know forests store huge amounts of carbon dioxide? They help balance Earth’s climate by absorbing CO2 — the same gas we release when we burn fuels. But sadly, millions of trees are being cut down every year, and we’re not even sure how much damage this causes. That’s where ESA’s Biomass satellite mission steps in.

Its main job? To measure forest biomass — the total mass of trees above the ground — and help scientists figure out how much carbon is stored in our forests and how fast it’s changing.

The Super Satellite: Biomass

This isn’t just any ordinary satellite. ESA’s Biomass satellite mission is the first in the world to carry a P-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). Sounds fancy, right? Let’s break it down:

• P-band Radar: It uses long radar waves (70 cm) that can see through thick forest canopies and reach the ground — something other satellites can’t do.
• 12-metre Antenna: Once in space, this giant antenna unfolds and scans forests in 3D — from tree tops to their roots.
• Sun-Synchronous Orbit: It will circle Earth at 666 km altitude, always catching the sunlight at the same angle for better accuracy.

What Will Biomass Actually Do?

ESA’s Biomass satellite mission is like a forest detective. Here’s what it will help scientists do:

• “Weigh” Forests from Space – It checks how heavy the forests are and how much carbon they store.
• Monitor Changes Over Time – By revisiting the same forests again and again, it will track if trees are growing or being lost.
• Create 3D Forest Maps – These maps will show forest structure in incredible detail, helping us understand their health and diversity.

And wait, there’s more. It’ll even observe ice sheet movement in Antarctica and create terrain models of regions covered with thick vegetation.

A Global Green Mission

ESA’s Biomass satellite mission won’t just look at a few places. It will scan forests all around the world — from the Amazon to Siberia — giving scientists the most complete forest picture ever made. And by knowing how much carbon is flowing to and from the atmosphere, we can take smarter steps to fight climate change.

The Earth Explorer Series

ESA is on a roll. Biomass is the seventh Earth Explorer mission — a special satellite series made to study Earth’s secrets. Previous missions looked at oceans, clouds, and even Earth’s gravity. The most recent was EarthCARE, launched in May 2024, which studies clouds and sunlight.

Now, with ESA’s Biomass satellite mission, it’s time for the forests to shine in the spotlight.

A Greener Future, One Scan at a Time

From space, ESA’s Biomass satellite mission will give us a clearer, bigger, and deeper look at the world’s forests. It’s not just about trees; it’s about our planet’s future. Understanding how forests store carbon is key to fighting climate change, protecting biodiversity, and building a healthier Earth.

So, next time you walk under a tree, remember — somewhere far above, ESA‘s Biomass satellite mission might be watching that forest, making sure we don’t lose what keeps our planet alive.