Last week, more than 6,500 participants from nearly 120 countries gathered at the Living Planet Symposium (LPS 25). With over 4,200 scientific presentations and posters, the symposium was a forum for scientists, academics, representatives from the space industry, as well as students and members of the public.

If you were unable to attend – or even if you did attend but missed some sessions – here are five things you should know:
 

1- Fresh news from Biomass

ESA’s Biomass mission is set to study the world’s forests like never before. Although the satellite was launched only two months ago, it is already providing first images of Earth in P-band. At LPS, ESA surprised attendees by unveiling the mission’s first image. It featured the Mamoré river in Bolivia, which is known for its meandering patterns, characterised by extensive curves and bends.

Across several sessions dedicated to the mission throughout the week, the Biomass team provided updates on the status and expected use of the data which will become openly available at the end of the year.
 

2- EarthCARE and Swarm staying longer in orbit

EarthCARE was originally designed as a three-year mission. As the satellite is flying at a relatively low altitude, factors such as space weather, the Earth’s atmosphere and gravity all contribute to gradually pulling it back down. However, after assessing life limiting items (including propellant) at the recent satellite in orbit performance review, the EarthCARE team announced that the satellite could potentially remain operational for much longer, possibly up to 10 years.

The EarthCARE team also hosted a full day of sessions to engage with the user community and present initial results and products. The aim was to gather as much feedback as possible to ensure the mission delivers data that meet users’ needs.

At LPS, EarthCARE was also featured in an immersive installation called Hakuryu, which is Japanese for White Dragon. The accompanying sonification is available for all to experience.

Swarm was also included in several sessions highlighting how the mission supports research into Earth’s core, the ionosphere, space weather and more. It was even described by some as ushering in a “golden age of satellite geo magnetometry.”

Now in orbit for 12 years, Swarm serves as both a catalyst and a calibrator, enabling smaller missions and magnetometers aboard other satellites to function as part of a growing “magnetic friends of Swarm” mega-constellation.

Swarm teams confirmed that the mission is expected to remain operational for the foreseeable future, with plans in place to continue through the next solar minimum (period in the solar cycle when the sun’s activity is lowest), predicted to occur around 2030.
 

3- Milestones for CryoSat, SMOS, Aeolus

80,000 orbits and still counting. CryoSat turned fifteen this year, and both the mission team and attendees celebrated with cake. In a session marking the anniversary, speakers reflected on the mission’s contributions to cryosphere science, oceanography, hydrology and climate change research. They also discussed the satellite’s continuing impact and its potential future role in Earth science.

SMOS celebrated its sixteenth year and also received considerable attention. Across multiple talks, participants highlighted the mission’s contributions to science. Initially intended to provide information on ocean salinity and soil moisture on land, SMOS now supports research across a broad range of Earth system domains. Its data are used to estimate sea ice thickness, monitor terrestrial freeze/thaw cycles, measure ice sheet temperatures and support many other aspects of planetary science.

Although the first Aeolus satellite ended operations in 2023, the mission’s data remain highly valuable for atmospheric research. At LPS, the Aeolus team and user community discussed major insights gained from the mission and outlined expectations for the future.

By accurately mapping global wind fields, Aeolus significantly improved weather forecasting models and deepened scientific understanding of the atmosphere. All of this is now informing ESA’s development of Aeolus-2.

4- Commercial missions helping EO research thrive

Companies around the world are launching more satellites into orbit, bringing unique data capabilities to the table. As these data can significantly support scientific research, it is essential to ensure that they are placed in the hands of researchers and institutions. This is precisely what ESA’s Third Party Missions Programme (TPM) is designed to achieve.

The programme currently includes data from over 50 missions, made available to users for research and development purposes. ESA promotes the accessibility of these third-party datasets by offering them through a single, streamlined programme to facilitate ease of access.

Throughout LPS, the TPM team hosted a series of panel discussions in which commercial providers showcased their missions. Suppliers of Earth observation data shared their experiences of working with ESA and other national, European and international organisations. Companies such as OroraTech, GHGSat, Dragonette and others emphasised how these contracts and partnerships have contributed to their growth and success.

5- Heritage data serving science

While new and upcoming Earth observation data were in the spotlight at LPS, datasets from past missions remain highly valuable and continue to support scientific research.

Through its Heritage Space Programme, ESA ensures that data from non-operational missions are preserved and made available for ongoing studies. A central part of this effort is the development of the Fundamental Data Records (FDR) framework, a series of long-term, high-quality datasets built around selected themes.

For each theme, the team identifies relevant missions, reprocesses their data, and compiles them into curated collections. These datasets are made available for download via users’ ESA EO Sign In accounts.

In the past year, ESA released new datasets under the Fundamental Data Records for Altimetry (FDR4ALT) project, covering mission archives from 1991 to 2012. These were derived from the ERS-1, ERS-2 and Envisat Altimeter and Radiometer instruments. ESA also released the Fundamental Data Records for Atmospheric Composition (FDR4ATMOS) project focused on measurements from ERS-2 and Envisat.

At LPS, several sessions and posters presented upcoming FDR collections focused on Earth’s vegetation and land monitoring. ESA plans to release these datasets soon.