25/10/2022
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The Copernicus Sentinel-1C satellite is currently in Cannes undergoing a series of demanding tests in preparation for its launch in 2023. The third member of the Sentinel-1 radar family, which is part of the European Copernicus programme, will continue the critical task of provide key radar images of the Earth’s surface for a wide range of scientific services and applications.
The satellite successfully completed all integration tests this summer in Rome, followed by environmental tests including thermal vacuum and mechanical vibration. These types of tests are designed to replicate the thermal conditions in orbit, as well as the mechanical and acoustic stresses that Sentinel-1 will experience during launch.
The satellite is currently undergoing a final series of tests in Cannes, at the Thales Alenia Space factory on the French Riviera, including the deployment of a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) antenna, electromagnetic compatibility and radio frequency functions in the facility’s anechoic chamber. These tests will continue until mid-November.
The next steps will be to stow the radar antenna, then deploy the solar array wings and complete system validation testing with the European Space Operations Center (ESOC) ground control team in December.
David Bibby, Copernicus Sentinel-1 Payload Manager, said: “Today we witnessed the deployment of the Sentinel-1C Synthetic Aperture Radar Antenna in Thales Alenia Space in Cannes. It was once again a demonstration of the great collaboration between the teams of ESA, Thales and Airbus, which we expected on Sentinel-1 and which is fundamental for the success of the mission.
Sentinel-1C is scheduled to lift off on ESA’s new Vega-C rocket from Europe’s spaceport in French Guiana in the first half of 2023.
Radar vision for Copernicus
Equipped with advanced radar technology to provide an all-weather, day and night supply of Earth’s surface imagery, the ambitious Sentinel-1 mission not only raised the bar for space radar, but also paved the way for Copernicus – the Earth observation component of the European Union’s space programme.
The Sentinel-1 mission benefits from many services. For example, services related to Arctic sea ice extent monitoring, routine sea ice mapping, marine environmental monitoring, including oil spill monitoring and vessels for maritime security, land surface monitoring for movement risks, mapping for forest, water and soil management and mapping to support humanitarian aid and crisis situations.
With the mission designed to operate as a pair of satellites, Sentinel-1C will take Sentinel-1A’s place in orbit. Sentinel-1B, whose mission ended earlier this year, will eventually be replaced by Sentinel-1D.
At the next ESA Council at Ministerial level in November, ESA is seeking the next phase of funding for its Copernicus Space Component programme. This program will meet the needs of current and potential users of Copernicus data and contribute to accelerating progress in space data, science and technology.
This program will develop the first Sentinel Next Generation satellites (Sentinel-1 NG). The next generation will ensure better continuity of the current Sentinel-1 mission and will provide data at higher spatial resolution, full polarization and shorter revisit time, to meet observation needs over land, coastal, glacial and maritime. Additional operational applications are ship detection and ocean current determination.
Simon Jutz, Head of the Copernicus Space Office, said: “The next generation of Copernicus Sentinels will ensure the continuity of the Copernicus programme, bringing higher resolution data to its users and providing the scientific data that policy makers need to support shared EU strategies. goals such as the Green Deal.
ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programs Simonetta Cheli said: “With the ESA Council at Ministerial level to be held next month, we are moving towards a greener, self-reliant and innovative Europe. .
The Copernicus programme, as the largest provider of Earth observation data, is fundamental to ESA’s Earth observation proposals and will only grow in importance as the climate crisis intensifies. .
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