Arianespace launches a Vega C mission for ESA on April 29. Photo: Arianespace

Arianespace has completed its second major launch of the year and the first involving its Vega C launcher in 2025. It has launched the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Earth Explorer Biomass satellite.

The Biomass satellite has interesting capabilities when it comes to monitoring climate change and will use its P-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) instrument to measure forest biomass to assess terrestrial carbon stocks and fluxes to enable scientists to better understand the carbon cycle and its effects on climate change.

The satellite was launched at 6:15 a.m. local time on April 29  from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.The Biomass satellite was manufactured by Airbus Defence and Space, and will spend at least five years making detailed observations and witnessing at least eight growth cycles in the world’s forests.

It was also a key launch for Arianespace as it looks to build up its launch cadence in 2025. It is the second major launch the launch provider has done this year. In March, the Ariane 6, the new European heavy-lift launcher operated by Arianespace, launched the CSO-3 French defense satellite.

“With the successful launch of Biomass for the European Space Agency, Arianespace not only ensures Europe’s autonomous access to space, but also contributes to using space to make life better on Earth. The fine-tuned collaboration between all involved made it possible to place into orbit a satellite dedicated to environmental monitoring and climate research, to help us better understand the forests of our planet. With this mission, we are proud to contribute to the fight against climate change and the preservation of biodiversity,” David Cavaillolès, CEO of Arianespace, said in a statement.