Copernicus Sentinel-1 is utilized to keep track of many aspects of our environment, from identifying and tracking oil spills and mapping sea ice to keeping track of movement in land surfaces and mapping changes in the method land is utilized. It also plays an essential role in supplying prompt information to help react to natural catastrophes and help humanitarian relief efforts. Credit: ESA/ATG medialab
On December 23, 2021, Copernicus Sentinel-1B experienced an anomaly associated to the instrument electronics power supply provided by the satellite platform, leaving it unable to deliver radar information. Spacecraft operators and engineers have actually been working relentlessly ever since to remedy the problem. Regardless of all concerted efforts, ESA (European Space Agency) and the European Commission reveal that it is the end of the mission for Sentinel-1B. Copernicus Sentinel-1A stays fully functional and plans are in force to introduce Sentinel-1C as quickly as possible.
ESAs Director of Earth Observation Programs, Simonetta Cheli, specified, “Unfortunately, we have to reveal the end of the objective for the Copernicus Sentinel-1B satellite. The conclusion drawn by the Anomaly Review Board is that it is impossible to recover the 28V managed bus of the satellites C-band artificial aperture radar antenna power supply system, which is needed to provide power to the radar electronic devices.
” Sentinel-1A stays extremely healthy in orbit, continuing to deliver high-quality radar images for a wide range of applications. Our focus is on fast-tracking the launch of Sentinel-1C. Now, thanks to the effective inaugural flight of the Vega-C rocket on July 13, we, with Arianespace, are targeting the launch in the 2nd quarter of 2023.”
Copernicus Sentinel-1 is used to monitor lots of elements of our environment, from detecting and tracking oil spills and mapping sea ice to monitoring movement in land surface areas and mapping changes in the way land is utilized. On December 23, 2021, Copernicus Sentinel-1B experienced an anomaly associated to the instrument electronic devices power supply offered by the satellite platform, leaving it unable to provide radar information. In April 2014, Sentinel-1A was the very first satellite to be launched for Copernicus, the Earth observation part of the European Unions space program. The European Union is at the helm of Copernicus, ESA develops, develops, and releases the dedicated Sentinel satellites. Copernicus Sentinel-1 carries a sophisticated artificial aperture radar that works in numerous specialized modes to offer in-depth images for Europes Copernicus program.
Vega C VV21 liftoff on July 13, 2022. Credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace/ Optique Video du CSG/S Martin
European Commissions Acting Director for Space (Directorate General for Defense Industry and Space), Paraskevi Papantoniou, stated, “The irreversible unavailability of Sentinel-1B satellite represents an important loss for the European Unions space program and the European Commission is engaged to alleviate its impact. We significantly handled to move on the launch of Sentinel-1C satellite.
” Meanwhile, Copernicus Contributing Mission information, including from European New Space business, will continue to be utilized to support the most crucial Copernicus Services items that are affected. The preparations for the de-orbiting of Sentinel-1B satellite are an example of our joint dedication, for the European Union and ESA, to clean and accountable area, utilizing the EUs Space Surveillance and Tracking abilities.”
In April 2014, Sentinel-1A was the very first satellite to be introduced for Copernicus, the Earth observation element of the European Unions area program. The European Union is at the helm of Copernicus, ESA establishes, develops, and launches the devoted Sentinel satellites. It likewise runs some of the objectives.
Copernicus Sentinel-1 carries a sophisticated artificial aperture radar that operates in a number of specialized modes to provide detailed images for Europes Copernicus program. These data will be used for applications such as keeping an eye on the oceans, consisting of shipping lanes, sea ice, and oil spills. It also provides information to map changing land cover, ground deformation, ice racks, and glaciers, and can be utilized to assist emergency situation response when disasters such as floods strike and to support humanitarian relief efforts at times of crisis. Credit: ESA/ATG medialab
After the Sentinel-1B launch in April 2016, with the mission consisting of two identical satellites orbiting 180 ° apart, the objective had the ability to image the planet with an optimal repeat frequency of 6 days, down to day-to-day protection at high latitudes.
Bring sophisticated artificial aperture radar innovation to offer an all-weather, day-and-night supply of imagery of Earths surface area, the ambitious Sentinel-1 mission raised the bar for spaceborne radar.
The objective benefits various Copernicus services and applications, such as those that associate with Arctic sea-ice monitoring, iceberg tracking, glacier-velocity monitoring, regular sea-ice mapping, security of the marine environment including oil-spill tracking and ship detection for maritime security, as well as prohibited fisheries keeping an eye on. It is also used for keeping an eye on ground contortion resulting from subsidence, earthquakes, and volcanoes, mapping for soil, forest, and water management, and mapping to support humanitarian help and crisis situations.
As Europes center of quality for mission operations, the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) is house to the engineers who control spacecraft in orbit, handle our global tracking station network, and style and build the systems on ground that support missions in space. Since 1967, over 60 satellites belonging to ESA and its partners have actually been flown from Darmstadt, Germany. Credit: ESA/J. Mai– CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
With such a significant function to play and users depending on timely information, ESA acted as quickly as it was clear that Sentinel-1Bs power problem might take some weeks to fix, which was the hope at the end of December.
ESAs Sentinel-1 Mission Manager, Pierre Potin, stated, “Together with the European Commission we are making sure to bridge some of the data gaps by adjusting the Sentinel-1A observation strategy and through radar data from other satellite objectives that contribute to the Copernicus program. For example, we are able to utilize information from Canadas Radarsat-2 and Radarsat Constellation Mission, Germanys TerraSAR-X, Italys COSMO-SkyMed, and Spains PAZ to support functional sea-ice tracking for the Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service.
” While we continue to try to decrease inconvenience to users and push to get Sentinel-1C into orbit as quickly as we can, we are likewise getting ready for the accountable disposal of Sentinel-1B.”
The Sentinel-1 Spacecraft Operations Manager, Alistair OConnell, included, “We have Sentinel-1B under control, all other systems except the power impacted unit, which prevents the radar from being turned on, continue to operate nominally and we carry out routine monitoring of the spacecraft health and regular orbit control maneuvers. We will keep Sentinel-1B under control till we can begin the disposal process, which we will begin after Sentinel-1C is safely in orbit.
” Deorbiting Sentinel-1B will be performed according to area particles mitigation requirements that remained in place for ESA jobs at the time of style of Sentinel-1A and Sentinel-1B, implying that re-entry in the atmosphere will take location within 25 years. In practice, the re-entry duration is anticipated to be much shorter.”
Copernicus Sentinel-1C features an opening night of a new separation system that will assist avoid space particles.
A summary of the description of the abnormality, of the examinations, and the recovery attempts, in addition to the parallel Sentinel-1 objective level actions and way forward is readily available on the Sentinel Online site.