HydroGNSS data open for new insights into Earth’s water
ESA · 2026-07-31
The European Space Agency's two-satellite HydroGNSS Scout mission, launched in November 2025, has successfully completed its commissioning phase and is now fully operational, making its data freely accessible worldwide. This milestone marks the culmination of eight months of intensive testing and validation of the satellites, instruments, and ground segment. HydroGNSS utilizes Global Navigation Satellite System Reflectometry (GNSS-R) to observe crucial hydrological variables, offering new insights into water availability and the impact of climate change on Earth's water cycle. As ESA's first Scout mission under the Earth Observation FutureEO programme, it embodies a "New Space" approach, enabling the rapid and cost-effective development of innovative satellite technologies. Developed by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL), the mission builds on previous GNSS-R technology to provide enhanced environmental observations on soil moisture, flooding, wetlands, and freeze-thaw conditions.
*The full article also explores the specific technical capabilities of the HydroGNSS instruments, including their ability to exploit multiple GNSS constellations, frequencies, and polarizations, and the collaborative international effort behind the mission's success.*