05/09/2024
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The third Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite tv for pc launched right this moment aboard the ultimate Vega rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. Sentinel-2C will proceed offering high-resolution information that’s important to Copernicus – Europe’s world main Earth commentary programme.
Sentinel-2C launched into orbit on 5 September at 03:50 CEST (4 September 22:50 native time) and separated from the Vega rocket at roughly 04:48 CEST.
Round 14 minutes later, at 05:02 CEST, ESA acquired the all-important sign indicating that the satellite tv for pc was safely in orbit.
Constantin Mavrocordatos, Sentinel-2 Venture Supervisor at ESA, mentioned, “I’m overjoyed with the profitable launch of Sentinel-2C, a milestone that might not have been potential with out the dedication and exhausting work of our unbelievable group. Collectively, we have taken one other vital step ahead in advancing Earth commentary and supporting important purposes that profit our planet.”
ESA’s Director of Earth Remark Programmes, Simonetta Cheli, commented, “We’re thrilled to have fun the profitable launch of Sentinel-2C, a brand new milestone within the well-established collaboration between ESA and the European Fee.
“This mission additional confirms the position of Copernicus as a number one programme to contribute to local weather change and environmental challenges worldwide, but in addition ensures the continuity of important information to help agriculture, forestry, maritime monitoring, and for a lot of different sectors. Collectively, we’re solidifying Europe’s dedication to a sustainable future, empowering decision-makers with the instruments they should defend our planet.”
ESA’s Director of House Transportation Toni Tolker-Nielsen, mentioned, “Europe’s Vega rocket launched the earlier two Sentinel-2 satellites in 2015 and 2017, so this launch was a becoming farewell to a really profitable rocket.
“Groups are already making ready for the subsequent Vega launch, the upgraded Vega-C by the tip of the yr. Right now’s liftoff was Vega’s twentieth profitable launch in its 12 years of service, farewell Vega, lengthy stay Vega-C!”
About Copernicus Sentinel-2
With Sentinel-2C now in orbit, it can quickly substitute its predecessor, Sentinel-2A, following a quick interval of tandem observations. Sentinel-2D will finally take over from Sentinel-2B. Later, it’s deliberate that the Sentinel-2 Subsequent Technology mission will then guarantee information continuity past 2035.
The present Sentinel-2 satellites every carry a high-resolution multispectral imager that generates optical photographs within the seen, near-infrared and shortwave-infrared a part of the electromagnetic spectrum. From their altitude of 786 km, they supply steady imagery in 13 spectral bands with resolutions of 10 m, 20 m and 60 m, with a big swath width of 290 km.
Sentinel-2 information are at the moment getting used for a broad vary of purposes, together with agriculture, water high quality monitoring, pure catastrophe administration, together with wildfires, volcanic eruptions and floods. The mission has surpassed its authentic expectations, for instance, by demonstrating its potential in detecting methane emissions.
For agriculture, the mission helps to watch crop well being, predict yields and allow precision farming. Pictures are used to detect crop sort, and to find out biophysical variables corresponding to leaf space index, leaf chlorophyll content material and leaf water content material to watch plant progress and well being.
The Sentinel-2 mission is the results of shut collaboration between ESA, the European Fee, business, service suppliers and information customers.
ESA develops, builds, launches and operates the satellites in orbit, and downloads the scientific information.
Sentinel-2 information are freely accessible by way of the Copernicus Information House Ecosystem, offering immediate entry to a variety of information from each the Copernicus Sentinel missions and the Copernicus Contributing Missions.
The Sentinel-2 satellites have been designed and constructed by a consortium of round 60 firms led by Airbus Defence and House.
The Copernicus element of the EU House Programme is supported by a set of devoted satellites, referred to as the Sentinel household, and contributing missions (current industrial and public satellites). Trying to the longer term, six Sentinel Growth missions and 4 Subsequent Technology Sentinels are being developed to deal with EU coverage and gaps in Copernicus person wants.
About Vega
Sentinel-2C was the final liftoff for the Vega rocket – after 12 years of service this was the ultimate flight, the unique Vega is being retired to make method for an upgraded Vega-C.
Different missions launched by the small and nimble rocket over its lifetime are flagship ESA missions corresponding to expertise demonstrator Proba-V, wind monitoring satellite tv for pc Aeolus, the reentry car IXV and LISA Pathfinder, a forerunner to LISA that may measure gravitational waves in area.
The Vega line ensures that Europe has a flexible, unbiased entry to area, complementing the Ariane household of rockets to launch satellites to any orbit – persevering with with Vega-C and the heavy-lift rocket Ariane 6.
