EECL Ultra-Low-Noise Amplifiers achieve in-orbit technical milestone on ESA HydroGNSS climate mission

European Engineering Consultancy Ltd (EECL) is marking a technical milestone with the successful operation of its ultra-low-noise amplifiers on the ESA HydroGNSS climate mission, now operating in Low Earth Orbit following its launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, in November 2025. The achievement comes three years after the company signed its initial contract with Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL), which built the satellites and the GNSS receiver for the mission.

Under the ESA programme, EECL was selected to design and manufacture six multiband ultra-low-noise microwave amplifiers (LNAs) for the twin HydroGNSS Scout satellites. These LNAs form a critical part of the payload’s radio frequency chain, amplifying extremely weak reflected signals while preserving signal integrity, to ensure valuable scientific data is captured at the earliest stage of reception.

For EECL, the strong in-orbit performance marks a major validation of its engineering capability. The LNAs were designed, manufactured and rigorously tested in the UK to meet demanding space qualification standards. Their operational success reinforces the company’s expertise in high-reliability microwave technology for space applications.

The HydroGNSS mission, supported by EECL’s LNAs, is ESA’s first Earth Observation Scout mission to reach orbit. The twin satellites use a pioneering GNSS reflectometry technique to capture and analyse faint signals from Global Navigation Satellites, including GPS and Galileo, after they reflect from land, ocean and ice on the Earth’s surface. These measurements enable scientists to monitor key hydrological and climate variables such as soil moisture, freeze–thaw state over permafrost, inundation and wetlands, as well as above-ground biomass. The captured data is crucial to understanding and responding to climate change.

Early in-orbit results have confirmed that the spacecraft payloads are performing as designed, with both satellites successfully collecting Delay Doppler Maps of reflected GNSS signals. Commissioning has progressed smoothly, with subsystems brought online and payload data acquisition initiated on schedule, validating hardware functionality and demonstrating strong signal acquisition capability.

“HydroGNSS is a mission with real global significance,” explains Ben Kieniewicz, CEO of EECL. “The signals being measured are incredibly faint, so low-noise amplifier performance is fundamental to mission success. Seeing our hardware performing accurately in orbit and enabling the collection of meaningful climate data is something the whole EECL team is extremely proud of.”

Since the original agreement between EECL and SSTL was signed in 2022, HydroGNSS has begun delivering meaningful climate data from orbit, demonstrating how high-performance RF technology underpins modern Earth observation systems. EECL’s involvement in the mission reflects its continued commitment to supporting space programmes that address global environmental challenges, while reinforcing its position as a trusted supplier of reliable, ultra-low-noise microwave solutions for demanding earth observation and SatCom applications.