Sentinel-1C prepared for launch following successful fuelling

Sentinel-1C prepared for launch following successful fuelling
by Erica Marchand
Paris, France (SPX) Nov 19, 2024

In preparation for its anticipated 3 December launch, Copernicus Sentinel-1C has completed the critical step of fuelling. This milestone marks significant progress as the satellite undergoes final preparations at Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

Sentinel-1C, designed to extend the legacy of the Sentinel-1 mission, will deliver radar data crucial for tracking environmental changes and supporting numerous scientific and operational applications. Notably, the satellite will enhance capabilities for maritime traffic detection and monitoring.

Arriving in French Guiana in early October, Sentinel-1C has since undergone rigorous testing. Its launch aboard a Vega-C rocket represents a pivotal moment for both the mission and the rocket's return to flight, reinstating Europe's independent access to space.

The completion of the 'flight readiness review' and preparations for the Vega-C rocket allowed experts to proceed with fuelling Sentinel-1C. Ramon Torres, the European Space Agency's Project Manager for the Sentinel-1 mission, remarked, "The launch campaign here in Kourou has gone very well and our thanks go to all the teams that have been involved. The first part of the campaign to launch Sentinel-1C is complete, and we are entering today the 'combined operations' part, which is carried out together with the Arianespace and Avio teams."

The next steps include attaching the satellite to the launcher adapter and encapsulating it within the Vega-C rocket fairing, ahead of its upcoming launch.

Equipped with advanced radar technology, Sentinel-1C can provide continuous, all-weather imagery of Earth's surface, continuing the standard set by Sentinel-1A since 2014. The mission operates with two satellites in the same orbit but spaced 180 apart for optimal global coverage and data relay as part of the European Union's Copernicus programme, managed by the European Commission.

Sentinel-1C's launch will help restore the full functionality of the two-satellite constellation, compensating for Sentinel-1B's unexpected cessation in 2022 due to technical issues. It is planned for Sentinel-1A to be succeeded by Sentinel-1D in 2025.

The mission benefits a range of Copernicus services, including Arctic sea-ice monitoring, iceberg and glacier tracking, environmental marine surveillance such as oil-spill detection, and ship monitoring to enhance maritime security and combat illegal fishing. It also contributes to ground movement monitoring for natural hazard assessment, forest and water management mapping, and emergency response mapping for humanitarian aid.

Sentinel-1C and its forthcoming counterpart, Sentinel-1D, introduce added capabilities through the Automatic Identification System (AIS), featuring four onboard antennas that capture signals from ships. This system helps identify, locate, and track ships, including those that do not transmit AIS signals, which can indicate potential illegal activity. Such comprehensive monitoring bolsters maritime safety and enforcement.