SPACEBEL has recently secured a contract to develop and deliver the Control Application Software for the instrument of the Radar Observing System for Europe in L-band (ROSE-L), a new Earth observation satellite to join the European Copernicus (*) constellation.

Our control software for the ROSE-L payload, an innovative Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), will collect and transfer the raw data from the instrument for analysis on the ground. It will also configure, control and manage the instrument jointly with the ground segment.

The agreement signed with Airbus Defence and Space Ltd (Portsmouth, UK), who is in charge of the satellite payload, also covers the Software Validation Facility, i.e. the test system to check on the ground whether the software meets all specifications and is performing correctly in order to achieve its intended purpose.

To be launched mid-2027, ROSE-L aka Sentinel-12 will monitor vegetation, ice and oceans 24/7. Thanks to its high spatial resolution images, the mission will also play an essential role in emergency management and help us to better understand and mitigate climate change.

During its 7½-year lifetime, the ROSE-L spacecraft will complement the current Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission radar capabilities for land management and ocean monitoring. Its innovative instrument, a lightweight L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), which can penetrate through many natural materials such as vegetation, dry snow and ice, has a 260km swath width. Moreover, with its 11m x 3,6m size, the 5-panel deployable antenna will be the largest planar radar antenna ever built for Space applications.

ROSE-L is one of the six second generation Copernicus satellites, the so-called High Priority Candidate Missions, meant to sustain, replace and enhance the current Sentinels in order to address policy priorities and engagements of the European Union in terms of environmental monitoring and protection, climate monitoring and natural disaster assessment.

SPACEBEL is proud and honoured to be part of this tremendous flagship programme!

(*) Copernicus, the Earth observation initiative of the European Union in partnership with ESA provides satellite data combined with in situ information while offering a vast array of services to improve the quality of life of citizens in Europe and beyond.

“The view expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Space Agency."

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