Press release
LEONARDO WILL MONITOR THE HEALTH OF THE EARTH FROM SPACE
Leonardo will provide the spectrometer for the FLEX Space mission, which will study the actual photosynthetic activity of vegetation on a global scaleThe data will provide valuable information on plant health in a changing climate and support sustainable development of ecosystems and agriculture
The contract reflects the technology leadership of Leonardo’s electro-optical instruments, which play roles on a range of major Space missions
Today Leonardo-Finmeccanica has signed a contract worth 74 million Euros with the European Space Agency (ESA) to create the FLEX spectrometer for the mission of the same name as part of the ESA’s ‘Earth Explorer’ Programme. From 2022 the FLEX mission will study the health of Earth’s vegetation from a satellite, gathering data that will have implications for Earth’s ecosystems and the maintenance of life on our planet.
Leonardo will lead a consortium of European companies, including primary partner OHB System AG, to deliver the spectrometer. The consortium will spend four years designing, manufacturing and qualifying the system in Campi Bisenzio (Florence). The FLEX instrument will, from a height of 800km, collect the light emitted by plants and break it down into its constituent colours. The sensor can then identify the faint reddish glow emitted during photosynthesis, normally invisible to the naked eye, and precisely identify the ‘fluorescence’ of vegetation, allowing researchers to measure the health of Earth’s ecosystem.
FLEX will orbit in tandem with the European Copernicus Programme’s Sentinel-3 satellite that itself is equipped with another Leonardo Space instrument, the SLSTR radiometer, which measures the sea and land surface temperature. The data will help meet challenges associated with climate change and the sustainable development of ecosystems and will also provide information of value to the agricultural sector.
“This contract highlights Leonardo’s leadership in the market of electro-optical instruments for the Space sector. At our Campi Bisenzio site we have built, together with the Italian Space Agency and the scientific community, numerous high-tech tools for important international Space missions. From our laboratories, where we’re proud to have assembled some of the most skilled Space engineers and most advanced equipment in Europe, we’ve delivered electro-optical hyperspectral and multi-spectral sensors that have won business competitions worldwide” - said Fabrizio Giulianini, Director of Leonardo’s Electronics, Defence and Security Systems sector.
“This mission will be the next important step in ESA's Earth Observation Programme. Like its predecessors it will be a marvel of European space technology.
It will deliver a completely new type of data to European scientists and will pave the way for a better understanding of the role of vegetation on Earth” - said Josef Aschbacher, ESA Director of Earth Observation Programmes.
With a wide range of skills, from the development of hi-tech space equipment and sensors to the supply of satellite services, to the production of satellites and orbiting structures, Leonardo has a leading role in all the most significant international Space missions for Earth observation, satellite navigation, meteorology, planetary exploration and scientific research. These missions include Copernicus, Galileo, COSMO-SkyMed, MetOp Second Generation, Meteosat Third Generation, Rosetta, BepiColombo, Venus Express, ExoMars, Dawn, Juno, JUICE, Cassini, New Horizons, Euclid and LISA Pathfinder.
Leonardo is a global high-tech company and one of the key players in the Aerospace, Defence and Security sectors. Headquartered in Italy, the company employs more than 47,000 employees worldwide.
eprdigitale
Via Arenula, 29 - III piano
Roma 00186
This release was published on openPR.
Permanent link to this press release:
Copy
Please set a link in the press area of your homepage to this press release on openPR. openPR disclaims liability for any content contained in this release.
You can edit or delete your press release LEONARDO WILL MONITOR THE HEALTH OF THE EARTH FROM SPACE here
News-ID: 384131 • Views: …
More Releases from Eprdigitale

LEONARDO'S SAGE ESM ENTERS SERVICE ON INDONESIAN AIR FORCE CN-235 MARITIME PATRO …
SAGE is a digital sensor which will be used to detect and locate potentially threatening radar systems
Leonardo is Europe’s leader in Electronic Warfare (EW) and is providing training for IAF operators out of its Luton, UK site
The export-ready ESM has been sold to multiple international customers
Leonardo-Finmeccanica’s SAGE Electronic Support Measures (ESM) system has now entered service on the Indonesian Air Force’s first modified CN-235 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA). The…

LEONARDO DEMONSTRATES C-27J CAPABILITIES IN LATIN AMERICA
From Italy to Panama, through Bolivia and Argentina, on to Antarctica
In Latin America the C-27J is already operated by the Mexican and Peruvian Air Forces
High mountain operations, unpaved strips, hot and deep cold environments are a perfect match for the C-27J
Stay tuned with Leonardo twitter accounts for a daily tour update. A dedicated web site for details and insights
A Leonardo-Finmeccanica mult-imission C-27J Spartan aircraft began a tour…
More Releases for Space
Space And Space Station Robotics Market Size Analysis by Application, Type, and …
According to Market Research Intellect, the global Space And Space Station Robotics market under the Internet, Communication and Technology category is expected to register notable growth from 2025 to 2032. Key drivers such as advancing technologies, changing consumer behavior, and evolving market dynamics are poised to shape the trajectory of this market throughout the forecast period.
The market for space and space station robots is expanding quickly due to rising expenditures…
Uncovering the Future: Space Refuelling Service Market 2025-2032 Analysis by Top …
The latest research study released by Worldwide Market Reports on "Space Refuelling Service Market 2025" holds tons of experience in offering comprehensive and accurate analysis of global as well as regional markets. The analysts and researchers authoring the report have provided a deeper competitive analysis of the Space Refuelling Service market along with exhaustive company profiling of leading market players. This research study of the Space Refuelling Service Market involved…
Space Laser Communication Market Outlook 2022 Global Industry Demand, Trends, Si …
The Space Laser Communication Market research report state the pricing structure, import-export details, SWOT analysis, supply chain analysis and facilitate the key decision-making process. Also, the report provides the complete structure and fundamental overview of the industry. It also provides insights about market aspects like CAGR value, market share, revenue analysis and much more.
The Space Laser Communication Market research report evaluates the growth opportunities, market drivers, threats and risk involved.…
Space and Space Station Robotics Market May Set New Growth Story | Made In Space …
HTF Market Intelligence released a new research Study of 86 pages on title 'Space and Space Station Robotics Market - Global Industry Analysis & Forecast US$ Million, 2019 – 2025' with in-depth analysis, forecast and business moves. The study covers key regions and important players such as Maxar Technologies, Motiv Space Systems, Altius Space Machines, Northrop Grumman, Honeybee Robotics, Astrobotic Technology, Made In Space, Inc., Effective Space Solutions Limited.
Request…
Space And Space Station Robotics Market 2020 Analysis and Precise Outlook -Maxar …
Global Space And Space Station Robotics Market Size, Status And Forecast 2020-2026
The report provides a unique tool for evaluating the Space And Space Station Robotics Market, highlighting opportunities, and supporting strategic and tactical decision-making. This report recognizes that in this rapidly-evolving and competitive environment, up-to-date marketing information is essential to monitor performance and make critical decisions for growth and profitability. It provides information on trends to identify emerging technologies and…
Space Mining Market Outlook to 2025 - Asteroid Mining, China National Space Admi …
The "Global Space Mining Market Analysis to 2025" is a specialized and in-depth study of the space mining market with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global space mining market with detailed market segmentation by phase, type of asteroid, application and geography. The global space mining market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key…