ESA HydroGNSS Mission Enters Full Science Phase
The European Space Agency's HydroGNSS mission has moved into its full scientific phase, using two satellites to monitor Earth's water cycle. The mission utilizes GNSS reflectometry to track soil moisture, wetlands, and biomass with high precision.
Why it matters
This technology provides cost-effective, high-resolution data essential for climate monitoring and environmental management.
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Image: HydroGNSS studying the Earth's water cycle; Image courtesy ESA --> The European Space Agency (ESA) HydroGNSS Scout mission has officially completed its eight-month commissioning phase, now entering full scientific operations. The two-satellite constellation represents a significant leap forward in utilizing GNSS reflectometry (GNSS-R) for remote sensing. By leveraging passive bistatic radar principles, the mission captures and analyzes L-band signals originally transmitted by GPS and Galileo navigation satellites.
According to the HydroGNSS team, these signals are received after reflecting off the Earth’s surface. By comparing the delayed, scattered reflections against the direct signals received straight from the navigation constellations, the onboard instruments derive critical hydrological variables. The mission targets key environmental indicators, including soil moisture, wetland inundation, freeze-thaw dynamics, and above-ground biomass.
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