Sentinel-3A Explained

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Sentinel-3A
Mission Type:Earth observation
Operator:ESAEUMETSAT
Cospar Id:2016-011A
Satcat:41335
Mission Duration:Planned: 7 years[1]
Elapsed:
Spacecraft Type:Sentinel-3
Spacecraft Bus:Prima
Manufacturer:Thales Alenia Space[2]
Launch Mass:1250kg (2,760lb)[3]
Dry Mass:1150kg (2,540lb)[4]
Dimensions:3.9xx
Power:2,300 watts
Launch Date: UTC
Launch Rocket:Rokot/Briz-KM
Launch Site:Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 133
Launch Contractor:Eurockot Launch Services
Orbit Reference:Geocentric
Orbit Regime:Sun-synchronous
Orbit Semimajor:7182.47km (4,462.98miles)
Orbit Eccentricity:0.000309
Orbit Periapsis:802.12km (498.41miles)
Orbit Apoapsis:806.56km (501.17miles)
Orbit Inclination:98.62°
Orbit Period:100.97 min
Orbit Raan:117.18°
Orbit Arg Periapsis:86.80°
Orbit Mean Motion:14.26 rev/day
Orbit Repeat:27 days[5]
Orbit Epoch:17 February 2016, 18:53:04 UTC[6]
Apsis:gee
Trans Band:S band (TT&C support)
X band (science data)
Trans Bandwidth:S band

64 kbit/s uplink, 1 Mbit/s downlink
X band: 2 × 280 Mbit/s

Instruments List:
Acronym1:OLCI
Name1:Ocean and Land Colour Instrument
Acronym2:SLSTR
Name2:Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer
Acronym3:SRAL
Name3:Synthetic Aperture Radar Altimeter
Acronym4:MWR
Name4:Microwave Radiometer
Acronym5:DORIS
Name5:Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite
Acronym6:LRR
Name6:Laser Retro-Reflector
Acronym7:GNSS
Name7:Global Navigation Satellite System
Programme:Sentinel-3
Next Mission:Sentinel-3B

Sentinel-3A is a European Space Agency Earth observation satellite dedicated to oceanography which launched on 16 February 2016. It was built as a part of the Copernicus Programme, and is the first of four planned Sentinel-3 satellites. Its sister satellite, Sentinel-3B, launched on 25 April 2018. After completing initial commissioning, each satellite was handed over to EUMETSAT for the routine operations phase of the mission. Two recurrent satellites - Sentinel-3C and Sentinel-3D - will follow in approximately 2025 and 2028 respectively to ensure continuity of the Sentinel-3 mission.

Mission history

In October 2015, the Sentinel-3A launch was planned for December 2015,[7] but delays in transportation from Cannes to the Plesetsk Cosmodrome postponed the launch to January 2016.[8] The spacecraft arrived at Talagi Airport aboard an Antonov An-124 on 28 November.[9] [10] By 17 December, Sentinel-3A completed pre-launch testing and was placed into storage for the Christmas break, lasting until 11 January 2016.[11] After the break, launch was scheduled for 4 February,[12] but while the spacecraft was being fuelled for launch, Khrunichev Space Center in Moscow determined that the launch pad needed to be recertified, resulting in a further delay.[13] Launch was eventually rescheduled for 16 February.[14]

Launch

Sentinel-3A was successfully launched on 16 February 2016 at 17:57 UTC from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome aboard a Rokot launch vehicle. The Briz-KM upper stage fired twice to insert the spacecraft into its intended 815km (506miles) orbit, first at 5 minutes and then at 75 minutes after launch. Spacecraft separation occurred at 79 minutes after launch, and ground controllers received the first communication from the vehicle at 92 minutes.[15] [16]

Operations

The first instrument switched on was OLCI. It made its first picture on 29 February 2016, capturing Svalbard island along with a part of the arctic ice pack near solar terminator.[17]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sentinel-3 › Satellite Description . . 30 January 2016.
  2. Sentinel-3A arrived at launch site . . 2 December 2015 . 30 January 2016.
  3. Web site: Copernicus: Sentinel-3 . eoPortal . European Space Agency . 21 December 2015.
  4. Web site: Satellite: Sentinel-3A . . 17 January 2016.
  5. Web site: Sentinel-3 › Mission Summary . European Space Agency . 30 January 2016.
  6. Web site: Sentinel 3A - Orbit . Heavens Above . 17 February 2016 . 17 February 2016.
  7. Web site: Sentinel-3A shows off . European Space Agency . 15 October 2015 . 30 January 2016.
  8. Web site: Sentinel-3A taking final steps to launch . European Space Agency . 3 December 2015 . 30 January 2016.
  9. Web site: Safe at the launch site . European Space Agency . 4 December 2015 . 30 January 2016.
  10. Web site: Sentinel-3A Launch Campaign Commenced . . 12 December 2015 . 30 January 2016.
  11. Web site: Almost time to pack up for Christmas . European Space Agency . 17 December 2015 . 30 January 2016.
  12. Web site: Back to Plesetsk and brrrrr... it's cold . European Space Agency . 12 January 2016 . 30 January 2016.
  13. Web site: Satellite fuelling on hold . European Space Agency . 21 January 2016 . 30 January 2016.
  14. Web site: Sentinel-3A gets new launch date . European Space Agency . 27 January 2016 . 30 January 2016.
  15. News: Russian Rokot launches Sentinel-3A . NASA Spaceflight . Chris . Bergin . William . Graham . 16 February 2016 . 16 February 2016.
  16. Web site: Third Sentinel satellite launched for Copernicus . European Space Agency . 16 February 2016 . 16 February 2016.
  17. Just two weeks after launch, the latest Sentinel satellite has offered a taster of what it will provide for the EU's Copernicus programme.. EUMETSAT. 2 March 2016. 2 March 2016. 14 June 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160614134301/http://www.eumetsat.int/website/home/News/DAT_2973919.html. dead.

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