Beyond Gravity Technologies Help Enable ESA’s FLEX Satellite to Track Global Vegetation Health

How do plants respond to environmental pressures, such as drought, heat, and climate change? A new European satellite called FLEX will map vegetation fluorescence from space and provide scientists with essential data to answer these questions. The European Space Agency's (ESA) Fluorescence Explorer (FLEX) satellite has been launched today, 15 September, 3:21 CEST, alongside the Copernicus Sentinel-3C satellite of the European Union. Both satellites, developed by Thales Alenia Space as prime contractor, have been launched together aboard a European Vega-C launch vehicle from the European spaceport in French Guiana. Beyond Gravity has contributed key technologies to the two satellites as well as the launch vehicle. "We are proud to contribute technologies across the mission, from platform architecture and structures to onboard electronics, thermal protection and navigation. Our extensive involvement reflects Beyond Gravity's position as a trusted partner for complex Earth observation programs and highlights the strength of European industrial cooperation", says Dr. Barbara Frei-Spreiter, CEO of Beyond Gravity, a leading global supplier to the space industry headquartered in Zurich (Switzerland).