Harwell Campus organisations have played a key role in the launch of Europe’s first urban area CO2 emissions monitoring satellite in a collaborative mission between the UK and France in an attempt to further understand how the world’s climate is changing.

The MicroCarb mission was developed between the UK Space Agency, whose HQ is in Quad Two at Harwell Campus, and France’s space agency CNES.

Backed by a £15M investment from the UK Space agency, the mission strengthens Britani’s position as a global leader in both climate science and space technology. The satellite will orbit 650km above Earth, using city-scanning technology to map CO2 emissions across urban areas at a 2km x 2km resolution, a level of detail never achieved from space. This capacity is vital for understanding emissions from cities, which are responsible for over 70% of global CO2 output.

A number of campus organisations were involved in the mission including; Thales Alenia Space which was responsible for preparing MicroCarb for launch and completed the satellite’s assembly, integration, test activities, and the development of the pointing and calibration system that enables MicroCarb to take precise measurements at specific locations were carried out by the Science and Technology Facilities council’s RAL Space, and GMV UK, in collaboration with France’s Capgemini, is designing, implementing and quality-assuring algorithms and operational processors for several of MicroCarb’s CO2 data products.

Successfully launched aboard a Vega-C rocket from Kourou in France Guiana on 29 July, MicroCarb will join the international greenhouse gas (GHG) virtual constellation of satellites. These satellites have been deployed to enhance global climate monitoring capabilities.

The satellite’s precise measurements will inform and help verify climate targets and guide net zero strategies, providing governments with the data needed to track progress toward the Paris Agreement and develop effective carbon reduction policies.

In addition to urban emissions, MicroCarb will monitor natural carbon sings such as forests and oceans, enhancing scientific understanding of how much carbon is absorbed by the planet and where. This data will essential for improving national carbon inventories and identifying new opportunities for carbon capture and storage (CCS).

MicroCarb will also measure Solar Induced Fluorescence (SIF), a faint glow plants give off during photosynthesis. This helps scientists track how much carbo plants absorb offering valuable insights into the carbon cycle and supporting direct measurements of CO2 in the atmosphere by helping to differentiate plant from anthropogenic CO2 emissions.

The first MicroCarb data products are expected to be released in a year, offering insights into major urban emitters and the performance of natural carbon sinks. These finding will feed into international climate assessments and future satellite missions under the UK’s Earth observation roadmap.

UK Minister for Space, Chris Bryant, said: “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.

“Bolstered with £15M UK government backing, 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.

“It’s also further evidence of the value of out deep and unique relationship with France: a partnership which the Prime Minister reinforced, with President Macron, at the UK-France Summit earlier this month.”

UK Space Agency Chief Executive Paul Bate said: “Satellites like MicroCarb are our eyes in the sky. Over half of the critical data we use to understand climate change comes from space, and MicroCarb’s successful launch is a major leap forward in our ability to track carbon emissions and absorption with unprecedented accuracy, from the world’s cities to its forests and oceans.

“Backed by UK and French investment and expetise, it’s a proud moment for both our space sectors and a powerful example of international collaboration in action.”

MicroCarb UK lead Palmer recently said: “Currently, we are witnessing rapid and unprecedented changes in the global carbon cycle. MicroCarb will deliver SIF and atmospheric CO2 data that are crucial for understanding those changes. It will also reinvigorate an aging virtual satellite constellation, providing high quality data to inform the next Global Stocktake of the Paris Agreement.

“More broadly, MicroCarb exemplifies the world-class capabilities of UK science and engineering, working closely with our French colleagues.”