The MicroCarb satellite, developed by France’s national space agency CNES in close partnership with the UK Space Agency, was successfully launched from French Guiana aboard a Vega-C rocket.
It is Europe’s first satellite dedicated to measuring atmospheric CO₂ and will help transform global climate monitoring, particularly in cities where over 70 per cent of global emissions originate.
Orbiting 650 kilometres above Earth, MicroCarb will provide ultra-high-resolution maps of CO₂ emissions at a 2 km by 2 km scale, enabling scientists and policymakers to pinpoint where emissions are coming from and how they are changing over time.
It joins the international “virtual constellation” of greenhouse gas monitoring satellites, filling a critical gap in our ability to track carbon at the urban level.
“This is a game changer,” said Sir Chris Bryant, UK Minister for Space. “With £15 million in UK government backing, this mission demonstrates Britain’s leadership in both climate science and space technology. MicroCarb will deliver the data needed to track carbon emissions from cities, support net zero policies and guide the clean energy transition.”
The mission forms part of a broader Franco-British space collaboration, renewed in 2021 and reaffirmed at the UK-France Summit earlier this year. It also supports the UK’s Earth Observation roadmap and its ambition to grow a world-leading space sector.
Dr Paul Bate, chief executive of the UK Space Agency, described the launch as “a major leap forward in our ability to observe the carbon cycle from space.”
“Over half the critical data we use to understand climate change comes from satellites,” Bate said. “MicroCarb is a symbol of the strength of international cooperation and a shining example of UK scientific expertise driving global impact.”
Beyond urban emissions, MicroCarb will also monitor the Earth’s natural carbon sinks – oceans and forests – providing vital information on how much carbon these ecosystems absorb and where. This data will feed directly into global stocktakes under the Paris Agreement and enhance national carbon accounting and policymaking.
British science and industry have been central to the mission’s success. The National Physical Laboratory provided ground calibration tools to ensure the satellite’s instruments operate with precision.
Scientists at the University of Edinburgh, University of Leicester, and the National Centre for Earth Observation are leading the mission’s scientific components, including atmospheric CO₂ mapping and tracking of solar-induced fluorescence (SIF), the faint light emitted by plants during photosynthesis.
“SIF is a key piece of the puzzle,” said Professor Paul Palmer, UK lead for the mission. “It helps us understand how much carbon is being absorbed by plants, which is crucial when distinguishing human-made emissions from natural processes.”
Meanwhile, RAL Space in Oxfordshire handled the satellite’s assembly and testing, while Thales Alenia Space UK and GMV UK contributed vital technical components, including calibration systems and data processing algorithms. UK and French teams will continue to work together during the post-launch validation phase.
For Australia, the successful launch of MicroCarb demonstrates the potential of international collaboration in climate monitoring, particularly as the nation continues investing in sovereign Earth observation capabilities under the Australian Space Agency and CSIRO’s space programs.
With Australia’s vast land-mass and diverse ecosystems, participation in data-sharing initiatives and partnerships with European missions like MicroCarb could enhance national climate modelling and inform carbon farming, emissions reporting and policy development.
MicroCarb’s first data products are expected to be released within 12 months. These will offer unprecedented insight into CO₂ emissions from the world’s major cities and the capacity of natural sinks to absorb carbon vital information as the global community works to keep warming below 1.5 degrees.
As the climate clock ticks, satellites like MicroCarb offer a powerful reminder that solutions to planetary challenges will be forged not just on Earth but above it, through the combined efforts of global science, industry and diplomacy.