Airbus announced the successful launch of the Sentinel-2C satellite from the Kourou Spaceport in French Guiana. This new satellite, an integral part of the European Union’s Copernicus program, was launched aboard a Vega rocket and is now in low orbit 780 km above the Earth. Sentinel-2C will replace Sentinel-2A and will work in conjunction with Sentinel-2B, ensuring the continuity of the Earth observation service initiated in 2015.
Applications of data collected and Sentinel-2C satellite characteristics
Sentinel-2C is equipped with a high-resolution multispectral imager that will capture vital data to monitor the health of the planet. Weighing 1.1 tons, this satellite will provide optical images in 13 spectral bands, with a resolution of up to 10 meters per pixel and a coverage of 290 km wide.
“This launch offers the world a key sensor for monitoring changes on our planet, providing crucial continuity in Copernicus missions.”
Marc Steckling, head of Earth Observation at Airbus.
The data obtained by Sentinel-2C will be used for a variety of applications, such as land use monitoring, agriculture, forestry, natural disaster management and water quality observation in coastal and inland areas. With a storage capacity of 1.5 terabytes of data per day, the satellite will transmit this data via laser to the SpaceDataHighway network and through X-band ground stations.
The Copernicus program and the future of earth observation
The satellite is part of the Copernicusthe Earth observation component of the EU Space Program, managed in collaboration with the European Space Agency(ESA). Sentinel-2C will contribute to informed decision-making in critical areas such as environmental management and global security.
The new satellite will undergo a series of tests before entering full service, ensuring a smooth transition in the mission to replace Sentinel-2A. Its launch represents an advance in Europe’s ability to maintain a detailed and continuous observation of our planet.
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Source and photo: Airbus
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