By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
Europe’s
Copernicus Earth observation programme has added its newest radar satellite to
orbit, following the successful launch of Sentinel-1D aboard an Ariane 6 rocket
from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana last Tuesday. The launch took place at
22:02 CET, with the satellite separating 34 minutes later and confirmation of
signal acquisition received at 23:22 CET.
Sentinel-1D
is the final satellite in the first-generation Sentinel-1 series and will
ensure continuity of data services relied on globally for disaster response,
climate monitoring, maritime domain awareness and environmental observation.
The mission provides high-resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images in
all weather conditions, day and night.
ESA
Director of Earth Observation Programmes Simonetta Cheli said the launch marks
a key milestone for the EU Earth observation programme, completing the
constellation needed to strengthen long-term climate and environmental
monitoring for Europe and the world.
Sentinel-1D
will operate in tandem with Sentinel-1C and eventually replace Sentinel-1A,
which has been in service for more than 11 years. Working 180 degrees apart in
orbit, the two satellites will increase global coverage and improve data
availability. Both carry C-band SAR instruments and Automatic Identification
System receivers, enabling improved monitoring of ship traffic alongside Earth
imaging, while maintaining compatibility with Galileo and other global
navigation systems.
The
Sentinel-1 mission has delivered critical radar datasets since 2014, supporting
studies on climate change impacts, ice sheet shifts, sea level dynamics,
tropical forest disturbance, subsidence and major greenhouse gas events. Its
data are freely available via the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem.
Sentinel-1D
was launched on Ariane 6 flight VA265, Europe’s latest heavy-lift launcher
designed to support a wide range of missions from low Earth orbit to deep
space, as part of Europe’s long-term strategy for independent access to space.
