HydroGNSS pre-launch online media briefing

Media representatives are cordially invited to join an online media briefing ahead of the launch of the European Space Agencys HydroGNSS mission.

WEBWIRE – Monday, November 3, 2025

Journalists will hear from:

Simonetta Cheli, ESA Director of Earth Observation ProgrammesAndrew Cawthorne, Managing Director at Surrey Satellite Technologies Limited (SSTL)Jean-Pascal Lejault, ESA Scout Programme ManagerMartin Unwin, SSTL GNSS Science Lead

They will then be able to pose questions to the speakers, who will be joined by:

Massimiliano Pastena, ESA Scout System ManagerPeter Garner, SSTL HydroGNSS Project ManagerDirk Bernaerts, ESA Earth Explorer Missions Programme ManagerMaria Paola Clarizia, ESA scientist for HydroGNSS

The briefing will be moderated by Jules Grandsire from ESA Media Relations.

About HydroGNSS

HydroGNSS is a two-satellite mission that will use a technique called Global Navigation Satellite System reflectometry to measure soil moisture, wetlands, freezethaw state over permafrost, forest biomass and other climate variables linked to the global water cycle. It will supply affordable, frequent measurements to support weather forecasting, agriculture, flood prediction and carbon monitoring.

HydroGNSS is the first of ESAs new family of Scout missions, which are developed within three years under ESAs Earth Observation FutureEO programme. These missions are quick and agile, paving the way for innovative science and complementing ESAs Earth Explorer research missions. The resulting scientific data is provided to the science community and to ESA.

The twin satellites were built in the UK by a consortium led by SSTL. Launch of the HydroGNSS mission is scheduled on board a SpaceX Falcon 9 launcher from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.

Media registration

Interested journalists are kindly requested to register by 16:00 GMT/17:00 CET on Friday 31 October:https://blogs.esa.int/forms/esa-media-briefing-form. Only registered media will be able to attend the online meeting and to ask questions.

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About the European Space Agency

The European Space Agency (ESA) provides Europes gateway to space.

ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europes space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.

ESA has 23 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia are Associate Members.

ESA has established formal cooperation with four Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.

By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. It is working in particular with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes as well as with Eumetsat for the development of meteorological missions.

Learn more about ESA atwww.esa.int

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