Giant step for earth observation?

Giant step for earth observation? The razzamatazz of a space launch tends to bring out the hyperbole, but we really are being promised that Envisat will help us, by monitoring critical trends on global warming, climate change, ozone depletion and the state of the oceans and icecaps. The new satellite was launched successfully by the European Space Agency (ESA) at the beginning of March and placed into sun-synchronous orbit. Its 10 instruments - more than on any other satellite - give it the capability of “tracing the smallest changes to the Earth's surface anywhere on the globe”, in the words of José Achache, director of ESA’s Earth Observation programme. So, even if weather and climate phenomena are top of its agenda, it will also be part of its watching brief to pick up the data on deforestation, and the warning signs on impending disasters, natural or otherwise.

“The Envisat mission will give us vast amounts of new information about our planet, and I am delighted that UK firms have played a leading role in its development,” said Science Minister Lord Sainsbury ahead of the launch. Scientific findings based on Envisat data would, he said, “underpin the future development of environmental policy, particularly on climate change.” Oh, and for the record it is the largest and most expensive satellite ever built by Europe, and has been hailed as a powerful symbol of the strength of a united Europe.