Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich
![]() Illustration of the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich spacecraft in orbit aboveEarthwith its deployablesolar panelsextended | |
Names | Sentinel-6A Jason-CS A |
---|---|
Mission type | Oceanography mission |
Operator | EUMETSAT/NASA |
COSPAR ID | 2020-086A |
SATCATno. | 46984 |
Website | www |
Mission duration | 5.5 years (planned) 3 years, 6 months and 24 days(in progress) |
Spacecraft properties | |
Bus | Sentinel-6 |
Manufacturer | Airbus Defence and Space |
Launch mass | 1,192 kg (2,628 lb) |
Dimensions | 5.13 x 4.17 x 2.34 metres |
Power | 891watts |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 21 November 2020, 17:17:08UTC |
Rocket | Falcon 9 Block 5 |
Launch site | Vandenberg,SLC-4E |
Contractor | SpaceX |
Entered service | 21 June 2021[1] |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
Regime | Low Earth orbit |
Altitude | 1,336 km (830 mi) |
Inclination | 66.0° |
Repeat interval | 10 days |
Instruments | |
| |
![]() Logo of theSentinel-6 programme |
TheSentinel-6 Michael Freilich(S6MF) orSentinel-6Ais aradar altimetersatellite developed inpartnershipbetween several European and American organizations. It is part of theJason satellite seriesand is named afterMichael Freilich.S6MF includessynthetic-aperture radaraltimetry techniques to improveocean topographymeasurements, in addition to rivers and lakes.[2]The spacecraft entered service in mid 2021 and is expected to operate for 5.5 years.
Spacecraft[edit]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Sentinel-6.jpg/220px-Sentinel-6.jpg)
The Sentinel-6 program includes two identical satellites, to be launched five years apart, Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, which launched on 21 November 2020,[3]and Sentinel-6B, which will launch in 2025.[4]These satellites will measure sea level change from space, which have been measured without interruption since 1992.[5][6]
Formerly calledSentinel-6AandJason-CS A(Jason Continuity of Service-A), it was renamed in honor of the former director ofNASA Earth Science Division,Michael Freilich,who was instrumental in advancing space-based ocean measurements. It follows the most recent U.S.-European sea level observation satellite,Jason-3,which launched in 2016, and is currently providing high-precision and timely observations of the topography of the global ocean.[7]
Context[edit]
Since the launch ofTOPEX/Poseidonon 10 August 1992, high-precision satellite altimeters have been essential to monitor how the ocean stores and redistributes heat, water, and carbon in the climate system. The two satellites, Sentinel-6Michael Freilichand Sentinel-6B, will extend this legacy through to at least 2030, which will provide a nearly forty-year record ofsea level riseas well as changes in ocean currents.[4][8]
Partnership[edit]
The Sentinel-6 was developed byEuropean Space Agency(ESA) in the context of the EuropeanCopernicus Programmeled by theEuropean Commission,theEuropean Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites(EUMETSAT),NASA,and theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA), with funding support from the European Commission and technical support from France's National Centre for Space Studies (CNES,Centre national d'études spatiales).[9]
The Sentinel-6 mission is part of theCopernicus programmeinitiative, the main objective of the Sentinel-6 mission is to measuresea surface topographywith high accuracy and reliability to support ocean forecasting systems,environmental monitoringand climate monitoring.[10]
The mission definition is driven by the need for continuity in provision ofTOPEX/Poseidonmission andJason satellite series(Jason-1,OSTM/Jason-2,andJason-3) with improvements in instrument performance and coverage.[11]ESA, NASA, and EUMETSAT will provide mission management and system engineering support. EUMETSAT and NASA will be responsible for long-term archives of altimetry data products. All partners will be involved with the selection of science investigators.[11]
Responsibilities of partners[edit]
ESA
- has responsibility for the development of the first satellite and the ground prototype processors, and for procurement of the second satellite on behalf of EUMETSAT and the European Commission
- has responsibility for conducting the Launch and Early Operations Phase (LEOP) of both satellites
- supports flight operations performed by EUMETSAT
EUMETSAT
- has responsibility for ground segment development and coordination at system level, including for operations preparation
- has responsibility for conducting operations of the two satellites after LEOP performed by ESA
- has responsibility for conducting operations of the European part of the ground segment, including processing of altimeter data and delivery of product services to European users
NASA
- has responsibility for the development and delivery of the U.S. payload instruments, the microwave radiometer and the GNSS radio occultation receiver
- provides launch services for both satellites
- provides ground segment development support and will contribute to operations and data processing on the U.S. side, including processing of GNSS radio occultation data
- with NOAA, shares responsibility for the distribution of products to research and operational users in the U.S.
NOAA
- provides a U.S. ground station for tracking and command of the satellite and data downlinks
- with NASA, shares responsibility for the distribution of products to research and operational users in the U.S.
CNES
- has responsibility for processing higher-level products (L2P, L3)
- has responsibility for providing precise orbit determination and support for Doris and altimeter operations[12]
Instruments[edit]
- POSEIDON4, aradar altimeter,developed by ESA, based on theSentinel-3SRAL instrument, but with a design adopted to allow an interleaved mode combining asynthetic-aperture radarHigh-Resolution (HR) mode and a low resolution (LR) mode based onpulse-limited altimetry
- Advanced Microwave Radiometer(AMR-C) provided by NASA
- Global Navigation Satellite SystemPrecise Orbit Determination(GNSS POD)receiver,developed by ESA and derived from the GNSS Receiver on Sentinel-3
- Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite(DORIS Receiver), identical to the one used on Jason-3 and Sentinel-3
- Laser Reflector Array(LRA), used forsatellite laser ranging,identical to the one used on Jason-3, provided by NASA
- GNSS Radio Occultation (GNSS-RO)based on a Tri-G receiver, provided by NASA[12]
References[edit]
- ^"New sea-level monitoring satellite goes live".ESA. 21 June 2021.Retrieved23 June2021.
- ^Donlon, Craig J.; Cullen, Robert; Giulicchi, Luisella; Vuilleumier, Pierrik; Francis, C. Richard; Kuschnerus, Mieke; Simpson, William; Bouridah, Abderrazak; Caleno, Mauro; Bertoni, Roberta; Rancaño, Jesus (1 June 2021)."The Copernicus Sentinel-6 mission: Enhanced continuity of satellite sea level measurements from space".Remote Sensing of Environment.258:112395.Bibcode:2021RSEnv.258k2395D.doi:10.1016/j.rse.2021.112395.ISSN0034-4257.S2CID233566650.
- ^Howell, Elizabeth (20 November 2020)."SpaceX will launch the Sentinel-6 ocean-mapping satellite Saturday".SPACE.com.Retrieved21 November2020.
- ^ab"Jason-CS (Sentinel 6) Summary".sealevel.jpl.nasa.gov.NASA. August 2020. Archived fromthe originalon 8 April 2017.Retrieved2 November2020.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
- ^"A Decade of Global Sea Level Measurements: Jason-2 Marks Tenth Year in Orbit".nesdis.noaa.gov.NOAA. 20 June 2018.Retrieved26 May2021.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
- ^B., Mark (8 September 2020)."NASA Sentinel 6 Michael Freilich to Launch in November 2020".Science Times.
- ^"NASA TV to Air Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich Launch, Prelaunch Activities".NASA. 13 November 2020.Retrieved22 November2020.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
- ^"Upcoming Satellite Mission will Improve Hurricane Forecasts and Climate Science, NOAA Expert Says".NOAA. 14 August 2020.Retrieved26 May2021.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
- ^Greicius, Tony (19 November 2020)."Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich Satellite Prepared for Launch".NASA.Retrieved21 November2020.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
- ^"Copernicus Sentinel-6: Testing Complete for New International Ocean Satellite".SciTechDaily. 15 June 2020.Retrieved26 May2021.
- ^ab"Sentinel-6 Overview".ESA.Retrieved29 October2019.
- ^ab"Sentinel-6".EUMETSAT. 19 May 2020.Retrieved26 May2021.