UK Support for MicroCarb CO₂ Satellite Mission: Algorithm Development and Programme Support

The MicroCarb mission is a European satellite programme led by France's Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES) that measures atmospheric carbon dioxide with high precision. The UK, through the UK Space Agency (UKSA), contributes scientific and technical expertise to this mission. This contract funds the continuation of UK activities through the financial year 2026–27, focusing on developing and refining the algorithms that retrieve CO₂ data from satellite measurements, preparing to use data once the satellite launches, and participating in mission oversight meetings. The work involves integrating multiple software components into the data processing pipeline, testing these systems with practice data, adding capability to process additional satellite measurements, and comparing results with French-developed systems. Suppliers should understand that this is technical, scientific work requiring expertise in satellite data processing, atmospheric science algorithms, and coordination with international partners. The contract emphasises making the algorithms reliable, ensuring smooth data handling, preparing for validation activities, and maintaining active UK involvement throughout the mission's operational phase.