Space satellite to help UK measure soil moisture and crops

The UK is involved in the L-band SAR mission, which measures soil moisture and crops for food security and precision farming (Photo: ESA-J.Ma)
The UK is involved in the L-band SAR mission, which measures soil moisture and crops for food security and precision farming (Photo: ESA-J.Ma)

A satellite due to launch into space today will measure soil moisture and crops for food security and precision farming purposes.

The Sentinel-3B satellite, which features systems built in the UK, will join six other satellites monitoring and measuring the Earth’s environment from space.

The majority of information they collect is freely available to anyone in the world. It can be used for anything from agriculture to urban planning, as well as tackling global issues like climate change.

Ahead of the satellite’s launch from Russia’s Plesetsk Cosmodrome due just before 7pm today (25 April), the European Space Agency announced the UK has secured a number of contracts for future work in the Copernicus programme.

Between Airbus UK and Thales Alenia Space, the UK has secured more than €12 million worth of contracts

The UK is involved in the L-band SAR mission, which measures soil moisture and crops for food security and precision farming.

Farming minister George Eustice said: “The UK has one of the largest concentrations of Copernicus data users in Europe. The satellite data is increasingly used by the UK Government, especially the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to monitor water and air quality, support flood recovery efforts, and deliver farming support, for example.

“It could also prove to be an immensely valuable tool in the delivery of our 25 year Environment Plan – a strategic priority for the UK Government.”