Paolo Bensi

BIOMASS: A P-band SAR earth explorer core mission candidate

The greatest uncertainties in the global carbon cycle involve estimating how carbon dioxide is taken up by land. The BIOMASS mission aims to improve the present assessment and future projection of the terrestrial carbon cycle by providing consistent global maps of forest biomass and forest area, forest disturbances and recovery with time, and the extent and evolution of the forest flooding. The BIOMASS primary objectives can be achieved through P-band (435MHz) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) observations of global forest cover. Two parallel industrial studies at phase 0 level were awarded respectively to Astrium GmbH and Thales Alenia Space Italy. This paper presents the resulting system concepts as elaborated by the industrial teams. The result of the phase 0 was presented to the user community in January 2009 in Lisbon together with other Earth Explorer candidates for further down-selection. If successfully selected after phase 0 and phase A, BIOMASS will be launched during 2016.

ESA future earth observation explorer missions

A new call for Core Earth Explorer Ideas was released by the European Space Agency in March 2005. The Call focused on the global carbon and water cycles, atmospheric chemistry and climate, as well as the human element as a cross cutting issue. The proposals were peer reviewed by scientific panels, and also appraised technically and programmatically by ESA. This paper describes the Earth Explorer cycle and gives an overview of the six candidate missions selected for assessment studies.

The Biomass mission, status of the satellite system

Earth Explorers are the backbone of the science and research element of European Space Agency (ESA)s Living Planet Programme, providing an important contribution to the understanding of the Earth system. Following the User Consultation Meeting held in Graz, Austria on 5-6 March 2013, the ESA Program Board has decided implementing Biomass as the 7th Earth Explorer Mission within the frame of the ESA Earth Observation Envelope Programme. This paper will give an overview of the satellite system and its payload. The system technical description presented here is based on the results of the work performed during parallel Phase A system studies by two industrial consortia led by Airbus Space and Defence Ltd. and Thales Alenia Space Italy. Two implementation concepts (respectively A and B) are described and provide viable options capable of meeting the mission requirements.

Biomass, CoReH 2 O, PREMIER: ESA's candidate 7 th Earth Explorer Missions

The European Space Agency (ESA) released a Call for Proposals for the next Earth Explorer Core Mission in March 2005, with the aim to select the 7th Earth Explorer (EE-7) mission for launch in the next decade [1]. Twenty-four proposals were received and subject to scientific and technical assessment. Six candidate missions were selected and further investigated in the preliminary feasibility studies (Phase 0). A further down-selection was made after the User Consultation Meeting held in Lisbon, Portugal in January 2009. Three candidate missions were selected for further feasibility investigations (phase A). Each of the candidate missions is now being defined in detail through two parallel and competing industrial studies and many complementary science and technology studies, aiming to the final down-selection in 2011/12, followed by the mission implementation with a planned launch in the 2016/17 timeframe.

ESA's biomass mission candidate system and payload overview

The European Space Agency (ESA) is preparing candidates for the next Earth Explorer Core mission with the aim to select the 7th Earth Explorer mission to be launched towards the end of this decade. Earth Explorers are the backbone of the science and research element of ESAs Living Planet Programme, providing an important contribution to the global endeavor of understanding the Earths system, particularly in view of global climate change. Six candidate missions were selected and investigated in the preliminary feasibility studies (Phase 0). A further down-selection was made after the User Consultation Meeting held in Lisbon, Portugal, in January 2009. Three candidate missions (Biomass, CoReH2O and PREMIER) were selected for further feasibility investigations (phase A). Each of the candidate missions has been defined in detail through two parallel and competing industrial studies and many complementary science and technology studies, aiming to the final down-selection in 2013, followed by the mission implementation with a planned launch in 2019. This paper will give an overview of the observation requirements, satellite system, payload and general status of the Biomass mission.

ESA future Earth observation Explorer missions

A new call for Core Earth Explorer Ideas was released by the European Space Agency in March 2005. The Call focused on the global carbon and water cycles, atmospheric chemistry and climate, as well as the human element as a cross cutting issue. The proposals were peer reviewed by scientific panels, and also appraised technically and programmatically by ESA. This paper describes the Earth Explorer cycle and gives an overview of the six candidate missions selected for assessment studies.

ESA's premier mission candidate: System and payload overview

The European Space Agency (ESA) is preparing candidates for the 7th Earth Explorer Core mission with the aim to select one of them to be launched towards the end of this decade. Earth Explorers are the backbone of the science and research element of ESAs Living Planet Programme, providing an important contribution to the global endeavour of understanding the Earth system, particularly in view of global climate change. Six candidate missions were selected and further investigated in the preliminary assessment studies (Phase 0). A further down-selection was made after the User Consultation Meeting held in Lisbon, Portugal in January 2009. Three candidate missions (Biomass, CoReH2O and PREMIER) were selected for further feasibility investigations (Phase A). Each of the candidate missions has been defined in detail through two parallel and competing industrial studies and many complementary science and technology studies, aiming to the final down-selection in 2013, followed by the mission implementation with a planned launch in 2019. This paper will give an overview of the observation requirements, satellite, payload and general status of the PREMIER mission.

Cold region hydrology high-resolution observatory (CoReH 2 O): A new microwave earth explorer core mission candidate

The CoReH2O mission focuses on spatially detailed observation of global snow, ice and water cycle parameters using a SAR at X- and Ku-bands in regions where snow and ice play a major role in the water and energy cycles as well as in biospheric processes. Two parallel industrial studies at phase 0 level have been awarded respectively to Astrium GmbH and Thales Alenia Space-Italy. This paper presents the resulting system concepts as elaborated by the industrial teams. The result of the phase 0 has been presented to the user community in January 2009 in Lisbon together with other Earth Explorer candidates for further down-selection. If successfully selected after phase 0 and phase A, CoReH2O will be launched during 2016.

ESA'S CoReH 2 O system and payload overview

The European Space Agency (ESA) is preparing candidates for the next Earth Explorer Core mission with the aim to select the 7th mission to be launched. Earth Explorers are the backbone of the science and research element of ESAs Living Planet Programme, providing an important contribution to the global endeavour of understanding the Earth system. Six candidate missions were originally selected and investigated in preliminary studies (Phase 0). A down-selection was made after a User Consultation Meeting in January 2009. Three of the candidate missions (Biomass, CoReH2O and PREMIER) were retained for more detailed feasibility investigations (Phase A). Each mission has been prepared through two parallel and competing industrial studies and many complementary science and technology activities. The final down-selection will be in 2013, followed by implementation and planned launch in 2019. This paper gives an overview of the CoReH2O requirements, mission concept and profile, satellite, payload, and status of the mission.

Meteosat third generation: preliminary imagery and sounding mission concepts and performances

The operational deployment of MSG-1 at the beginning of 2004, the first of a series of four Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) satellites, marks the start of a new era in Europe for the meteorological observations from the geostationary orbit. This new system shall be the backbone of the European operational meteorological services up to at least 2015. The time required for the definition and the development of new space systems as well as the approval process of such complex programs implies to plan well ahead for the future missions. EUMETSAT have initiated in 2001, with ESA support, a User Consultation Process aiming at preparing for a future operational geostationary meteorological satellite system in the post-MSG era, named Meteosat Third Generation (MTG). The first phase of the User Consultation Process was devoted to the definition and consolidation of end user requirements and priorities in the field of Nowcasting and Very Short Term Weather Forecasting (NWC), Medium/Short Range global and regional Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP), Climate and Air Composition Monitoring and to the definition of the relevant observation techniques. After an initial post-MSG mission study (2003-2004) where preliminary instrument concepts were investigated allowing in the same time to consolidate the technical requirements for the overall system study, a MTG pre-phase A study has been performed for the overall system concept, architecture and programmatic aspects during 2004-2005 time frame. This paper provides an overview of the outcome of the MTG sensor concept studies conducted in the frame of the pre-phase A. It namely focuses onto the Imaging and Sounding Missions, highlights the resulting instrument concepts, establishes the critical technologies and introduces the study steps towards the implementation of the MTG development programme.