07/05/2025
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Just a week after its launch, the ESA’s biomass mission has reached another important milestone on its way to provide unprecedented insight into the world’s forests and their important role in the Earth’s carbon cycle is now fully deployed.
After the liftoff, orbital injection acquisition of its first signal and satellite in-arbit check, biomass ‘Aries’ Aries Antenna Reflectors successful deployment launch and mark the final significant phase in the initial operating phase.
Before bringing the 12-meter-cum-reflector out, there is a need to deploy 7.5-meter-lamb supporting boom.
ESA’s Stephen Kirnco, responsible for the development of the antennas reflector, explained, “The deployment of the boom was done in three careful planned stages, each to last about five minutes. However, only one phase was executed per day, which was a time bound to match with specific satellite passengers that offered optimal coverage from ground stations.
“Once the boom had grown completely, we proceeded to deploy the Aries Antenna reflector, which essentially comes like an umbrella above the satellite.”
In the animated sequence below, the photos come from a camera installed on the biomass satellite and provide a rare glimpse in action in space. The camera was provided by Swiss company MCSE.
Biomass antennae sinns selfie
ESA’s biomass project manager, Michael Faharinger said, “First, we had to disable the satellite attitude and class control system, so that it could independently ‘float’ to avoid any unwanted torque during the deployment of antenna.
“We had only a 24-minute window of visibility during antennae sins, during which the ground station coverage in Inuvik (Canada), Swalbard (Norway), and Kiruna (Sweden) was originally handed over. However, the process takes a little longer time, so we had to wait for another pass to confirm that it was really successful.
“I want to thank L3H – antenna reflectors, Airbus supplier – major contractor for biomass, and ESA teams have worked to make this amazing moment and major milestone.”
The animation below refers to the depression of an artist, the impression of an artist, boom and antenna.
After carrying the first P-band synthetic aperture radar in space, the biomass mission is designed to give important information about the status of our forests and how they are changing, and significantly, to carry forward our knowledge of the forests of role in the carbon cycle.
Seeing wood through trees
The antenna reflects the footprint of the radar on the surface of the Earth and receives the returned signal, which takes information about the carbon content of the forests.
Simonata Cheli, director of Earth’s Earth observation programs, said, “I was happy to successfully deploy the biomass to his remarkable antenna – a major milestone for one of our leading Earth Explorer Mission.”
“These missions are designed to demonstrate state -of -the -art space technologies developed through our fuityo research and development program and provide extraordinary insights about our planet.
Biomas antenna reflector deployed
“With this achievement, we are another important step to unlock unprecedented knowledge about the forests of the world, including important data on carbon stocks and flux – fundamental to understand and manage the Earth’s carbon cycle. It is a proud moment for European science and technology.”
With the Antenna Open of Biomas, satellite operators at the ESA’s Mission Control Center expect to launch by the end of the week and complete the early orbit phase.
Next, the mission will enter its commissioning phase, which will last for about six months.
