ESA to launch Flex and Sentinel satellites to study photosynthesis

The European Space Agency (ESA) is scheduled to launch the Flex mission and the Sentinel-3C satellite on September 15 via a Vega C rocket from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana.

The Flex mission aims to study photosynthesis from space by measuring plant fluorescence, a subtle red glow emitted during the process that is invisible to the human eye. Using the high-precision Floris fluorescence imaging spectrometer, the mission will assess plant health and stress levels, which is critical for global food security and understanding carbon and water cycles amidst climate change. The mission is expected to last approximately 3.5 years.