Microcarb, an innovative mission in orbit to scrutinize CO2

This July 25, the micro-satellite Microcarb takes off … Furthermore, Direction space, 650 km above sea level. Furthermore, His mission? Moreover, Measure atmospheric CO flows₂ – The main greenhouse gas rejected by human activities – throughout the planet. For example, Developed by the CNES thanks to French funding as part of the Investment Plan for the future. Similarly, this scientific mission is a first in Europe. Furthermore, While the overall average temperature is already 1.3 ° C higher compared to the period 1850-1900. Nevertheless, know the CO flows₂ is fundamental to better understand the origins and impacts of climate change. Consequently, Satellite measures will identify the main carbon wells on the planet, cities or vegetation emissions, all over the seasons.

An ultra-light satellite thanks to an innovative detector – Microcarb, innovative mission orbit scrutinize

“Microcarb is a demonstration mission. For example, and microcarb, innovative mission orbit scrutinize not operational, points to Philippe Landiech, Microcarb project manager and Myriade sector. Moreover, It allows manufacturers and scientists to calibrate measures for future missions like CO2M. Meanwhile, »CO2M – whose launch is scheduled for 2028 – will become the first European operational satellite for co -measure₂. In addition, high resolution. However,

Microcarb is not the first to measure the CO₂ Since the space. Consequently, it succeeds in particular the American Mission OCO-2 which soon affects its end. For example, Its particularity? For example, “The measures will be similar to OCO-2. Nevertheless, but the satellite is more compact, lighter and therefore more economical,” says Bruno Cugny, technical political expert orbital systems in the CNES. Meanwhile, While the OCO-2 satellite weighs around 500 kg, Microcarb displays a featherweight of 180 kg. Similarly, Reducing the weight of a satellite directly decreases the cost of its launch. Therefore, a size criterion for governments microcarb, innovative mission orbit scrutinize that finance this type of mission.

How did the CNES engineers achieve this technical feat? Moreover, “The biggest challenge has been to miniaturize the instrument on board the satellite while retaining great precision of the measure. For example, ” explains Philippe Landiech. However, It only weighs 80 kg, against triple for the American instrument. »»

The instrument is a passive infrared spectrometer, a device which allows to break down the light (as the rain drops do when the sun shines by forming a rainbow) reflected by the earth. Microcarb breaks it down according to four strips of wavelengths. which is to isolate the absorption zones of the CO₂ and oxygen. CO concentration₂ is measured at the PPM (part per million). that is to say that it is possible to determine the number of CO molecules₂ in a million air molecules. An essential precision to study natural flows. those linked to human activities – the latter increasing a few PPMs each year.

“The originality of our approach was to bring together the observation of the four strips of wavelengths on a single instrument, while the previous instruments embarked microcarb, innovative mission orbit scrutinize a detector for each measured band,” explains Bruno Cugny. Make four instruments in one was the key to miniaturization. »»

The instrument has innovative mirrors and a passive cooling system intended to permanently cool the detector. Developed by the CNES in collaboration with Airbus Defense. Space, the instrument has been the subject of publications in scientific conferences and the filing of two patents.

Microcarb. innovative mission orbit scrutinize – Microcarb, innovative mission orbit scrutinize

An essential calibration for robust measures – Microcarb, innovative mission orbit scrutinize

While the objective is to measure the CO₂ With the same performance as the previous missions, the engineers were rubbed with another challenge, as Detail Élodie Cansot, CNES instrument manager: “The miniaturization of the instrument and the low energy available on board the satellite – 200 W at most and around 50 W for the instrument – led to optimizing the design and the method of calibration of the instrument. »»

microcarb, innovative mission orbit scrutinize

The measures of the satellite will be meticulously validated from the land. it is the terrestrial part of the mission called “Sol program”. “It is essential to check the quality of the data with soil measures. However. the start-ups that launch out in the field do not always realize this validation, it is often their weak point, ”comments Bruno Cugny. Once the satellite is orbit. the first phase of the mission consists in comparing its data with that of spectrometers deployed on the ground, measures under balloon and Lidar airborne measurements.

Finally, with each passage from the satellite, the data will be transmitted to Eumetsat in Germany. 3000 calculators are dedicated to the mission. “From the raw data from the satellite. the Sol program calculates the CO2 concentration on each pixel thanks to treatment chains [ndlr : un ensemble de calculs informatiques] Developed at CNES ”, details Bruno Cugny. The microcarb, innovative mission orbit scrutinize CNES is responsible for maintaining the processing algorithms and the quality of the data produced.

The CNES participates in risk taking for innovation

Thus, the Microcarb mission is innovative to many titles. And the support of the CNES was decisive. as Bruno Cugny explains: “Faced with an innovative concept, manufacturers could issue reserves. One of the CNES missions is to assume part of this risk taking. »»

Initiator of the mission in 2016 In response to the needs of the scientific community. the French space agency is also a project manager, a prime contractor satellite, performance manager, operation and operation. Bruno Cugny adds: “From the start of the instrument development phase at Airbus Defense. Space, the CNES has set up in its laboratories of the characterization benches of certain equipment such as the detector, the scale network and the polarization jammer. The objective was to measure their performance and ensure that microcarb, innovative mission orbit scrutinize they meet the needs of the mission. »»

Once the calibration. validation phases have been completed, CO measures₂ Calculated from microcarb data will be accessible to all on the online platform Aeris by mid 2026. In practice, the concentration of CO₂ will be calculated on pixels of a size of 4.5 x 9 km. The entire globe is revisited every 25 days, which will get seasonal comparisons of CO flows₂.

As for the platform which supports the Microcarb instrument, it is – also – of CNES manufacturing. She is 19^e Micro-satellite platform of the Myriad sector to be sent to space. Thanks to its 100 kg featherweight, it offers the opportunity to carry out spatial missions in reduced costs and deadlines … Exactly what needed in Microcarb.