The MicroCarb mission plans to demonstrate the robustness of an innovative sensor.
The sensor developed for the MicroCarb mission is created with support from CNES.
The MicroCarb microsatellite is a high-precision space asset designed to measure concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere.
The European light launcher lifted off from the Guiana Space Center on the night of July 25-26, 2025, to place the French MicroCarb and CO3D observation satellites into orbit.
Vega-C carried five observation satellites, including the MicroCarb scientific demonstrator and two pairs of CO3D satellites.
MicroCarb is a microsatellite designed to map atmospheric CO2 flows on a planetary scale to identify sources and sinks of carbon dioxide.
Future missions such as Merlin and Microcarb will also contribute data to WEkEO.
The MicroCarb satellite will be launched from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana in early 2024.
The Harwell Space Cluster hosts facilities used by UK scientists and engineers working on the MicroCarb mission.
The MicroCarb satellite will be launched from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana in early 2024 with support from Thales Alenia Space’s French and British teams.
GMV received a contract to develop the processor for the French space agency CNES's MicroCarb mission.
Before nations report progress under the Paris agreement in 2023, space and environmental agencies plan to launch MicroCarb led by CNES; EUMETSAT’s Metop Second Generation A; the Methane Remote Sensing Lidar Mission, a joint project of DLR and CNES; and NASA’s GeoCarb.