Published on 21 May 2026
The goal of the HiBiDiS mission is to enable an increased understanding of the ecosystem biodiversity by providing detailed multitemporal, multiangular, hyperspectral observations over selected areas by assessing Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs).
The selection of this mission was formally approved recently by ESA’s Earth Observation Programme Board following an intensive 10-month evaluation process.
Hibidis stands for Hyperspectral Biodiversity Scout – and as its full name suggests, it will carry a hyperspectral imager to improve our understanding of understorey ecosystem biodiversity.
By viewing selected areas of Earth’s surface from three different angles, this clever instrument will be able to separate forest canopies from understories so that various Essential Biodiversity Variables can be assessed.
SITAEL (from Italy) is the prime contractor for Hibidis but the mission is only possible thanks to the contribution of 2 Belgian partners, AMOS for the hyperspectral instrument, and VITO (together with the University of Zurich) for the data processing and the scientific contribution.
More info about the selection by ESA: https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FutureEO/Greenligh…;