Launched last November, the Copernicus Sentinel-1D satellite has completed the critical in-orbit commissioning phase and marks a milestone in Europe\u2019s flagship radar mission.<\/p>\n
The first generation satellite of the Copernicus programme, Sentinel-1A was launched in 2014. The Sentinel-1 mission aimed to provide consistent, high-quality Earth Observation data for the Copernicus Services, helping inform analysis of meteorological events, natural disasters and climate change.<\/p>\n
The programme consists of two identical satellites orbiting our planet with 180 degrees of separation to optimise coverage. Sentinel-1B was launched in 2016 to pair with Sentinel-1A, but was its mission was ended prematurely by a technical anomaly in 2022.<\/p>\n
Sentinel-1C was launched in 2024 to fulfil the constellation, with Sentinel-1D launched as an additional satellite in late 2025.<\/p>\n
Day and night radar coverage of the Earth\u2019s surface<\/p>\n
The mission delivers critical data for scientists, emergency responders and policymakers through high-resolution synthetic aperture radar imaging.<\/p>\n
Upon completion, the satellites will have provided twenty years of continuous observations, in all weathers and day and night, offering an unparalleled retrospective in a time of rapid climate change and environmental shifts.<\/p>\n
Reducing space debris<\/p>\n
Sentinel-1C and Sentinel-1D also carry a new separation mechanism which will help avoid space debris<\/a>, underscoring the European Space Agency\u2019s and the European Commission\u2019s commitment to clean space principles.<\/p>\n