This article was published on April 29, 2025

World-first satellite acts like an MRI scan for forests

The European Space Agency (ESA) has blasted its Biomass satellite into space aboard a Vega-C rocket. The launch took place at 11:15 (CEST) today from Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

Now in orbit, the first-of-its-kind satellite will deploy a radar antenna that looks like a giant space umbrella. Developed by US defence contractor L3 Harris, the antenna is so intricate that it will take nine days to unfold in orbit.

The umbrella’s job is to direct radar pulses from a P-band radar instrument mounted on the satellite’s body down to the forests below. This type of radar uses long wavelengths that can slice through thick canopies to reach the woody structures underneath, where most of a forest’s carbon is stored. Built by Airbus, it’s the first P-band radar ever launched into space.

When the radar signals hit Earth’s surface, they bounce back. The umbrella-shaped antenna catches the returning signals and redirects them to the satellite. From there, the onboard systems process the data to create detailed 3D maps of global biomass. Think of it as an MRI scan — but for forests.

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By revealing the structure of the world’s biomass — comprising a complex mesh of leaves, stems, branches, and trunks — the probe aims to capture the most detailed measurements of forest carbon ever recorded from space. That could be a game-changer for climate science.

Siôn is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy. From nuclear fusion breakthroughs to electric vehic (show all) Siôn is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy. From nuclear fusion breakthroughs to electric vehicles, he's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. He has five years of journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. When he's not writing, you can probably find Siôn out hiking, surfing, playing the drums or catering to his moderate caffeine addiction. You can contact him at: sion.geschwindt [at] protonmail [dot] com