HydroGNSS pre-launch online media briefing

Journalists will hear from:

• Simonetta Cheli, ESA Director of Earth Observation Programmes
• Andrew Cawthorne, Managing Director at Surrey Satellite Technologies Limited (SSTL)
• Jean-Pascal Lejault, ESA Scout Programme Manager
• Martin Unwin, SSTL GNSS Science Lead

They will then be able to pose questions to the speakers, who will be joined by:

• Massimiliano Pastena, ESA Scout System Manager
• Peter Garner, SSTL HydroGNSS Project Manager
• Dirk Bernaerts, ESA Earth Explorer Missions Programme Manager
• Maria Paola Clarizia, ESA scientist for HydroGNSS

The briefing will be moderated by Jules Grandsire from ESA Media Relations.

About HydroGNSS

HydroGNSS is a two-satellite mission that will use a technique called Global Navigation Satellite System reflectometry to measure soil moisture, wetlands, freeze–thaw state over permafrost, forest biomass and other climate variables linked to the global water cycle. It will supply affordable, frequent measurements to support weather forecasting, agriculture, flood prediction and carbon monitoring.

HydroGNSS is the first of ESA’s new family of Scout missions, which are developed within three years under ESA’s Earth Observation FutureEO programme. These missions are quick and agile, paving the way for innovative science and complementing ESA’s Earth Explorer research missions. The resulting scientific data is provided to the science community and to ESA.

The twin satellites were built in the UK by a consortium led by SSTL. Launch of the HydroGNSS mission is scheduled on board a SpaceX Falcon 9 launcher from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.

Media registration

Interested journalists are kindly requested to register by 16:00 GMT/17:00 CET on Friday 31 October: https://blogs.esa.int/forms/esa-media-briefing-form. Only registered media will be able to attend the online meeting and to ask questions.

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