A new satellite is using long-wave radar to weigh the world's forests from space.

The European Space Agency has launched the Biomass mission to track forest health and carbon storage. By using specialized radar technology, this satellite can peer through dense foliage to measure the actual woody mass of trees, providing a clearer picture of their impact on the global carbon cycle.

Launched on 29 April 2025 from Kourou, French Guiana, the Biomass satellite represents a significant step in Earth observation. It is the first mission to utilize a P-band radar system capable of creating interferometric images. With a wavelength of approximately 70 cm, this signal penetrates the entire forest canopy to reach the trunks, branches, and stems.

This capability is essential for quantifying the carbon stored within the woody parts of trees. By monitoring these dynamics, the mission aims to reveal how global forests evolve over time. The satellite was carried into orbit by a Vega-C rocket, a vehicle designed to offer higher performance and larger payload capacity than its predecessors.

Source: Biomass: From cleanroom to space