EO·Atlas
P-SAR (BIOMASS P-band Synthetic Aperture Radar)
Compiled from public sources on 2026-05-25. Not independently verified by Airbus Defence and Space.
Does Airbus Defence and Space own this listing? Claim and verify it →
Fully polarimetric P-band Synthetic Aperture Radar, sole imaging payload of the ESA BIOMASS satellite (Earth Explorer 7, launched 29 April 2025). First P-band SAR in orbit for Earth observation. Centre frequency 435 MHz (about 69 cm wavelength). Primary product is global above-ground forest biomass at 4 ha resolution annually; secondary product is forest disturbance detection at about 0.25 ha minimum mapping unit with global revisit every five months in the interferometric phase. Built by Airbus DS UK as prime, with Harris Corporation (12 m deployable mesh reflector) and Thales Alenia Space (feed array) as key subcontractors.
BIOMASS P-SAR is the fully polarimetric P-band synthetic aperture radar payload on ESA's BIOMASS mission.[1][2] It is an active SAR instrument operating at 435 MHz with 6 MHz chirp bandwidth, HH, VV, HV and VH polarisation, and a nominal 50 km swath.[1] The product context is forest structure and biomass measurement rather than broad C-band surveillance: the mission uses P-band penetration and polarimetric acquisitions for global forest biomass and disturbance products.[2]
Airbus Defence and Space is identified as the prime manufacturer, with L3Harris providing the 12 m deployable reflector and Thales Alenia Space associated with feed-array context in the mission profile cross-check.[2][3]
| Methodology | Evidence | Mission |
|---|---|---|
| polarimetric-sar-decomposition | demonstrated | BIOMASS |
| sar-backscatter-change-detection | capable | BIOMASS |
Pricing not publicly listed by operator
Compositional position
- [1]BIOMASS Facts and Figures, ESAagency doc2026-05-25
- [2]BIOMASS mission overview, ESA EO Gatewayagency doc2026-05-25
- [3]BIOMASS mission profile, eoPortalcommunity2026-05-25