ESA Open Invitation To Tender AO8336
Open Date: 08/06/2015
Closing Date: 05/08/2015

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 15.156.05
Prog. Ref.: EOEP-4 Earth Explo.7
Budget Ref.: E/0087-E4 – EOEP-4 Earth Explo.7
Special Prov.: BE+DK+FR+DE+IT+NL+ES+SE+CH+GB+IE+AT+NO+FI+PT+LU+CZ+CA+PL+RO
Tender Type: C
Price Range: 200-500 KEURO
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Directorate of EO Programmes
Department: Earth Observation Projects Department
Division: Earth Explorer Missions Programme
Contract Officer: Tchoualack, Cendrine
Last Update Date: 08/06/2015
Update Reason: Tender issue

The Biomass Mission is the fourth Earth Explorer Core mission to cover primary research objectives as set out in the -€œ Science and Research Elements of ESA’- Living Planet Programme (ESA, SP-1277, 1998). Biomass was selected by the Earth Observation Programme Board at its 152nd meeting held on 6-8 May 2013. The primary scientific objectives of the BIOMASS mission are (1) to determine the distribution of aboveground biomass in the world forests and (2) to measure annual changes in this stock over the period of the mission. The Biomass space segment consists of a single satellite carrying a P-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) working at 435 MHz. The SAR instrument has full polarimetric and multipass interferometric capabilities and operates in stripmap mode. The satellite carries a large deployable reflector (around 12m diameter) which is illuminated by a P-band feed. It will fly in a near-polar, Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude between 600km and 700km. The achievement of the radiometric performance requirements will be ensured bythe End-to-End (E2E) mission characterization and calibration, which will include on-ground accurate instrument/system characterization and in-orbit SAR internal and external calibrations. The study will focus on the SAR external calibration, which complements the system/instrument calibration through an end-to-end characterization of the radar measurement chain using: man-made on-ground calibration devices, natural targets, auxiliary data, as well as Ionospheric correction algorithms. The output of this Contract will beused to provide recommendations and input to the Biomass Phase B2/C/D/E1 activities and, in particular, to consolidate the SAR external calibration strategy and the system performance budgets.

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