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| UK wins satellite contract to 'weigh' Earth's forests | UK wins satellite contract to 'weigh' Earth's forests |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| British industry is to lead the construction of a satellite that will weigh all the world's trees. | British industry is to lead the construction of a satellite that will weigh all the world's trees. |
| The Biomass mission's novel space radar will make 3D maps of forests, improving our understanding of how carbon is cycled through the Earth system. | The Biomass mission's novel space radar will make 3D maps of forests, improving our understanding of how carbon is cycled through the Earth system. |
| Its data will be important for climate research, and will create a baseline for treaties that seek to monitor the status of global forest resources. | Its data will be important for climate research, and will create a baseline for treaties that seek to monitor the status of global forest resources. |
| The spacecraft is to be assembled by the UK arm of Airbus Defence and Space. | The spacecraft is to be assembled by the UK arm of Airbus Defence and Space. |
| It signed a contract with the European Space Agency (Esa) on Friday last week valued at €229m (£179m). | It signed a contract with the European Space Agency (Esa) on Friday last week valued at €229m (£179m). |
| The mission, which will launch on a Vega rocket in 2021, is part of Esa's Earth Explorer programme. | The mission, which will launch on a Vega rocket in 2021, is part of Esa's Earth Explorer programme. |
| This operates a fleet of satellites that deploy innovative sensor technology to address big, outstanding environmental questions. | This operates a fleet of satellites that deploy innovative sensor technology to address big, outstanding environmental questions. |
| Slice by slice | Slice by slice |
| The newness in Biomass is its P-band radar: a type of instrument that only recently has begun to be exploited in orbit. | |
| By pulsing with a wavelength of 70cm, the radar can look through the leaf canopy of forests to the woody parts below. | By pulsing with a wavelength of 70cm, the radar can look through the leaf canopy of forests to the woody parts below. |
| Using an approach akin to tomography, it will scan slices through the trees on repeat passes to build up a picture of how much woody material in present. | Using an approach akin to tomography, it will scan slices through the trees on repeat passes to build up a picture of how much woody material in present. |
| Global maps should be produced every six months. The plan is for Biomass to gather at least five years' worth of data. | Global maps should be produced every six months. The plan is for Biomass to gather at least five years' worth of data. |
| "Effectively, we'll be weighing the forests," said Prof Shaun Quegan, who was one of the key proposers of the mission. | "Effectively, we'll be weighing the forests," said Prof Shaun Quegan, who was one of the key proposers of the mission. |
| "We'll know their weight and their height at a scale of 200m, and we'll see how they are changing over time. | "We'll know their weight and their height at a scale of 200m, and we'll see how they are changing over time. |
| "This will give us unprecedented information on deforestation - on how much carbon is going into the atmosphere from this source. At the same time, we'll also see how much carbon is being taken up in regrowth," the Sheffield University scientist told BBC News. | "This will give us unprecedented information on deforestation - on how much carbon is going into the atmosphere from this source. At the same time, we'll also see how much carbon is being taken up in regrowth," the Sheffield University scientist told BBC News. |
| Biomass Earth Explorer | Biomass Earth Explorer |
| Biomass will be permitted under international telecommunications rules to operate everywhere except the far north of the Americas and northern Europe. | Biomass will be permitted under international telecommunications rules to operate everywhere except the far north of the Americas and northern Europe. |
| Military priority for the detection of missiles means the satellite will have to turn off its radar in these regions. | Military priority for the detection of missiles means the satellite will have to turn off its radar in these regions. |
| Scientists are not unduly concerned about this, however, because forest statistics in those areas are already reasonably robust. The major regions of uncertainty are in the tropics, where Biomass can wield its instrument without restriction. | Scientists are not unduly concerned about this, however, because forest statistics in those areas are already reasonably robust. The major regions of uncertainty are in the tropics, where Biomass can wield its instrument without restriction. |
| The capture of the satellite contract from Esa is a further boost to the British space sector. After some lean years, it is now the industrial lead on a number of the agency's missions: | The capture of the satellite contract from Esa is a further boost to the British space sector. After some lean years, it is now the industrial lead on a number of the agency's missions: |
| "This is further proof of the confidence Esa has in UK industry to deliver," said Airbus executive Andy Stroomer. "It also affirms our approach to re-use proven systems to reduce cost. | "This is further proof of the confidence Esa has in UK industry to deliver," said Airbus executive Andy Stroomer. "It also affirms our approach to re-use proven systems to reduce cost. |
| "So, although Biomass with its big antenna looks quite different from Sentinel-5p, they actually share many of the same components, particularly the electronics." | "So, although Biomass with its big antenna looks quite different from Sentinel-5p, they actually share many of the same components, particularly the electronics." |
| All missions have a primary objective, but then enterprising researchers will find secondary applications for a satellite's data. Biomass promises some fascinating alternative uses. | All missions have a primary objective, but then enterprising researchers will find secondary applications for a satellite's data. Biomass promises some fascinating alternative uses. |
| Its P-band radar, for example, will see tens of metres into the ground. | Its P-band radar, for example, will see tens of metres into the ground. |
| "The penetration depth of the radio wave is very high compared to any other radar," explained Volker Liebig, Esa's director of Earth observation. | "The penetration depth of the radio wave is very high compared to any other radar," explained Volker Liebig, Esa's director of Earth observation. |
| "This means in deserts we can look under the sand for archaeology, for the foundations of old buildings. It may be possible to see old impact structures from meteorites as well." | "This means in deserts we can look under the sand for archaeology, for the foundations of old buildings. It may be possible to see old impact structures from meteorites as well." |
| UK science minister Jo Johnson, who witnessed the contract signing between Mr Stroomer and Prof Liebig, said: "Biomass is a revolutionary mission, helping us better understand our planet's carbon cycle to help tackle climate change. | UK science minister Jo Johnson, who witnessed the contract signing between Mr Stroomer and Prof Liebig, said: "Biomass is a revolutionary mission, helping us better understand our planet's carbon cycle to help tackle climate change. |
| "Satellites are the only way for us to get this unique perspective on our planet. It is our membership of Esa and our reputation for science and innovation that enables UK industry to win major satellite manufacturing contracts such as this one, creating jobs around the country." | "Satellites are the only way for us to get this unique perspective on our planet. It is our membership of Esa and our reputation for science and innovation that enables UK industry to win major satellite manufacturing contracts such as this one, creating jobs around the country." |
| Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos | Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos |