Sentinel-1C: New radar satellite launched into space

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 A new radar satellite supported by the UK was launched into space from French Guiana at 9:20pm GMT on Thursday 5 December.

The Sentinel-1C satellite launched on a VEGA-C rocket and will orbit 700km above the Earth’s surface. Part of Europe’s Copernicus programme, it will use advanced radar technology to provide continuous imaging over land and sea, day and night, and even through cloud cover. 

The UK’s Earth Observation industry is integral to the Sentinel 1 satellites, with the support of the UK Space Agency. 

Airbus Defence and Space (Portsmouth) developed the electronics subsystem of the key Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) instrument aboard the satellite. Honeywell UK was responsible for the receiver of the Automated Identification System (AIS) payload, which will be key for maritime surveillance capabilities. Additionally, the battery for Sentinel-1C was supplied by Enersys ABSL (Abingdon). 

Once it reaches its intended orbit, Sentinel-1C will synchronise with Sentinel-1A which is already in space. These satellites will work in partnership with each other to deliver the Sentinel-1 mission, imaging the Earth and generating large amounts of data that is fed into the various services provided by Copernicus.   

Unlike research satellites, Sentinel-1C imagery is designed to sustain a reliable operational service, with consistent and long-term data collection for key applications. This is crucial for land and maritime monitoring, tracking of sea ice, emergency response to flooding and earthquake events, tracking climate variables and assessing the impacts of climate change. 

This Sentinel-1 image acquired on 24 November 2024 shows the flooded areas near the towns of Langport, Bridgwater, and Yeovil in red tones. The Copernicus Sentinel satellites deliver key data for monitoring and delineating the extent of areas affected by floods, supporting local decision-making during emergencies. Credit: European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-1 imagery 

As well as its radar instrument, Sentinel-1C will also carry a new Automatic Identification System (AIS), developed by the International Maritime Organisation to help ships avoid collisions at sea. The combination of radar images and AIS signals improves the monitoring of global shipping traffic and can also help detect piracy and other illegal activities.  

This latest milestone for Copernicus follows the successful launch of another satellite - Sentinel-2C - in September this year. This satellite is already providing high-resolution imagery and data – it is a powerful tool that enhances the UK and Europe’s capabilities in monitoring land and vegetation.

https://www.gov.uk/

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