With GBP 15 million in UK funding, the mission boosts Britain's leadership in climate and space innovation. Orbiting at 650km, the satellite uses advanced city-scanning technology to capture urban CO2 emissions at an unprecedented 2km x 2km resolution. This fine-scale data is essential, as cities account for over 70% of global CO2 output.
"This groundbreaking mission is proof of what can be achieved when we harness the strength of Britain's burgeoning space industry, together with our deep scientific expertise," said UK Minister for Space Sir Chris Bryant. "The MicroCarb satellite will overhaul our ability to track carbon emissions - supporting the clean energy mission that's key to this Government's Plan for Change."
Bryant also emphasized the UK-France partnership behind the project, reaffirmed during the recent UK-France Summit.
The satellite's data will support verification of climate goals, net zero strategies, and policy development aligned with the Paris Agreement. "Satellites like MicroCarb are our eyes in the sky," said UK Space Agency Chief Executive Dr Paul Bate. "MicroCarb's successful launch is a major leap forward in our ability to track carbon emissions and absorption with unprecedented accuracy."
In addition to urban measurements, MicroCarb will monitor natural carbon sinks, such as oceans and forests. It will also detect Solar Induced Fluorescence (SIF), a weak glow emitted by plants during photosynthesis, providing insight into the biosphere's carbon uptake and helping distinguish natural from human-made emissions.
UK institutions have played critical roles in the mission. The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) developed calibration tools and data verification methods. Thales Alenia Space UK prepared and tested the satellite at RAL Space in Harwell, which also built the satellite's pointing and calibration systems. GMV UK and Capgemini contributed algorithm and processor development for key data products.
Leading the UK's science effort, Professor Paul Palmer of the National Centre for Earth Observation and University of Edinburgh is creating detailed CO2 maps. Dr Rob Parker from the University of Leicester developed the SIF retrieval algorithm. Palmer noted, "MicroCarb will deliver SIF and atmospheric CO2 data that are crucial for understanding those changes...providing high quality data to inform the next Global Stocktake of the Paris Agreement."
The mission stems from a bilateral UK-France space agreement first signed in 2014 and renewed in 2021. The collaboration highlights the countries' strategic alignment in satellite and climate technologies. The first MicroCarb data products are expected within a year, with outputs feeding into future climate assessments and missions under the UK's Earth observation roadmap.
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