‘Space umbrella’ returns first striking images of Earth’s forests

A giant umbrella-like satellite fitted with European tech has revealed its first images of Earth’s surface.

The probe, called “Biomass,” was built by a host of aerospace giants and startups for the European Space Agency (ESA). It launched in April on a Vega-C rocket from Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. European Astrotech, a UK-based startup, was responsible for fuelling the satellite ahead of takeoff.

Biomass’ mission is to capture the most detailed measurements of forest carbon ever recorded from space. To get the job done, it’s been equipped with the first-ever P-band radar to enter orbit. It aims to deepen our understanding of changes in the Earth’s forests — and the impact on the global carbon cycle.

Built by Airbus, this type of radar instrument uses long wavelengths that can slice through thick canopies to reach the woody structures underneath, where most of a forest’s ...