10/09/2024
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Sentinel-2C has accomplished its essential first few days in area, which noticed groups on the bottom working across the clock to make sure the spacecraft is able to start its mission.
Launch day
The third Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite tv for pc launched from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana aboard the ultimate Vega rocket on 5 September at 03:50 CEST (4 September 22:50 native time).
The 1.1 tonne satellite tv for pc carries a high-resolution optical payload that can guarantee Europe’s Copernicus Earth commentary programme continues to collect a few of the greatest international color imagery of our land and vegetation ever delivered from area.
After a profitable launch, Sentinel-2C separated from its Vega rocket at roughly 04:48 CEST. Round 14 minutes later, at 05:02 CEST, ESA’s ESOC mission operations centre in Darmstadt, Germany, acquired the all-important first indicators from the satellite tv for pc indicating that it had safely arrived in orbit.
We hear you, #Sentinel2 C!
Troll Station in Antarctica is receiving the satellite tv for pc’s sign and telemetry is arriving loud and clear at ESA mission management in Germany. pic.twitter.com/4bq9UWOAqI
— ESA Operations (@esaoperations) September 5, 2024
A satellite tv for pc’s first days in orbit
The groups didn’t have to attend lengthy for the primary piece of fine information: through the satellite tv for pc’s first 12-minute communication window with KSAT’s Troll floor station in Antarctica, operators acquired affirmation that Sentinel-2C had efficiently deployed its photo voltaic array.
As soon as the staff had gained management of the satellite tv for pc and confirmed that it had begun to generate energy, they set to work switching on and assessing the performance of the satellite tv for pc’s different core methods. In the meantime, ESA’s Flight Dynamics staff decided the precise orbit that the satellite tv for pc had been inserted into by its Vega launcher, and ESA’s House Particles Workplace commonly scanned this orbit to make sure it was freed from any threat of collision with one other spacecraft or piece of particles.
“Total, Sentinel-2C’s Launch and Early Orbit Section (LEOP) went very easily, and we have been capable of full the entire crucial actions somewhat sooner than deliberate,” stated Flight Operations Director Franco Marchese. “Finishing a LEOP early reduces the chance that these essential actions are disrupted as a result of we have to perform a collision avoidance manoeuvre to keep away from an incoming piece of area particles.”
Marchese reported that the Sentinel-2C LEOP section formally ended on Friday night, with the spacecraft and floor methods all working as anticipated.
“We’ve efficiently performed our first orbital manoeuvre utilizing Sentinel-2C’s thrusters. The satellite tv for pc is in nice form and the commissioning section – throughout which we’ll be sure that its multispectral imager payload is prepared for routine operations – began on Monday.”
Sentinel-2C will now spend the subsequent three months being ready to start the routine acquisition of high-resolution photos of Earth’s land surfaces, islands, inland and coastal waters from an altitude of round 790 km.
“Following an ideal launch by the ultimate Vega rocket, the Sentinel-2C LEOP was swiftly accomplished by our groups working at ESOC,” stated ESA’s Head of Mission Operations Simon Plum.
“Along with the groups at ESOC, I want to thank all of the groups concerned in Sentinel-2C – together with these from trade, the groups at ESA’s ESTEC engineering centre and ESRIN Earth commentary centre, and the Vega groups at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou – for a job properly achieved and a easy begin to this essential mission.”
