Earth Observation Satellites Used for the Exhibit

Sentinel-1        

The Sentinel-1 mission is a two-satellite constellation, poised to deliver a wealth of data and imagery that are central to Europe's Copernicus programme. Sentinel-1 carries an advanced c-band synthetic aperture radar which provides an all-weather, day-and-night supply of imagery of Earth's surface.

Data collected from Sentinel-1 will be used to change the way we manage our environment, understand and tackle the effects of climate change, and safeguard everyday lives. Specifically, the mission will involve:

  • monitoring of Arctic sea-ice
  • routine sea-ice mapping
  • surveillance of the marine environment (including oil-spill monitoring and ship detection for maritime security)
  • monitoring land-surface for motion risks
  • mapping for forest, water and soil management
  • mapping to support humanitarian aid and crisis situations

Sentinel-1 is the result of close collaboration between the ESA, the European Commission, industry, service providers and data users. Designed and built by a consortium of around 60 companies led by Thales Alenia Space and Airbus Defence and Space, it is an outstanding example of Europe's technological excellence.

Sentinel-1A was launched on 3 April 2014 on a Soyuz rocket from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.

SMOS (Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity)  

ESA's SMOS mission is a direct response to the current lack of global measurements of soil moisture and ocean salinity. Data gathered from SMOS will further our understanding of the water cycle, and help contribute to better weather forecasting, climate models and oceanographic models.

SMOS is designed to measure microwave radiation emitted from Earth's surface within the L-band (1.4 GHz) using an interferometric radiometer. SMOS contains an instrument called MIRAS (Microwave Imaging Radiometer using Aperture Synthesis) which consists of a multitude of small antennae (69 antenna elements) to achieve the required spatial resolution for observing soil moisture and ocean salinity.

SMOS was launched on 2 November 2009 on an ELS Rockot from Russia's Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

GOCE (Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer)     

Launched on 17 March 2009 from Russia's Plesetsk Cosmodrome, ESA's Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) mission was the first Earth Explorer mission in orbit. This novel mission delivered a wealth of data to bring about a whole new level of understanding of one of Earth's most fundamental forces of nature - the gravity field. This sleek, high-tech gravity satellite embodied many firsts in its design and use of new technology in space to map Earth's gravity field in unprecedented detail.

As the most advanced gravity space mission to date, GOCE's data is resulting in a broad range of fascinating new possibilities for oceanography, solid Earth physics, geodesy and sea-level research, and significantly contributing to furthering our understanding of climate change.

It is often assumed that Earth's gravitational acceleration is constant at 9.8ms -2 however, variations exist in the gravitational field due to a number of factors such as the rotation of Earth, the position of mountains and ocean trenches and variations in density of Earth's interior. Precise variations can be calculated using devices that measure acceleration (accelerometers). Carrying three orthogonal pairs of highly sensitive 3-axis accelerometers, GOCE  was able to measure anomalies in the geoid and gravity-field with high accuracy and high spatial resolution.

Data from GOCE is being used to understand more about processes occurring inside Earth and for use in practical applications such as surveying and levelling. In addition, the measurements are being used to improve estimates of polar ice-sheet thickness and their movement.

On 21 October 2013, the mission came to an end when it ran out of fuel. Three weeks later, on 11 November, the satellite disintegrated as it entered Earth's atmosphere.

Envisat (Environmental Satellite)           

ESA's Envisat was an advanced polar-orbiting Earth observation satellite which provided measurements of the atmosphere, ocean, land and ice over 10 years of operation. It was launched in 2002 with 10 instruments aboard and at eight tons was the largest civilian Earth observation mission.  The Envisat satellite carried an ambitious and innovative payload that ensured the continuity of the data measurements from the ERS satellites. The archive of data received from the satellite supports Earth science research and aids in the long-term monitoring of environmental and climactic changes.

The Envisat mission ended on 08 April 2012, following the unexpected loss of contact with the satellite.

Cryosat

ESA's CryoSat mission is dedicated to measuring the thickness of polar sea ice and monitoring changes in the ice sheets that blanket Greenland and Antarctica. Beyond the core mission objectives, the satellite's radar altimeter also contributes to several other domains such a oceanography, hydrology and marine gravity.

CryoSat was the first Earth Explorer mission to be selected in 1999, but the original satellite was lost due to a launch failure in October 2005. A new satellite - sometimes referred to as CryoSat-2 - was subsequently built with a number of improvements and was launched on 8 April 2010.

Swarm

ESA's Swarm mission was designed to measure the magnetic signals that stem from Earth's core, mantle, crust, oceans, ionosphere and magnetosphere. This will lead to better understanding of the processes that drive Earth's dynamo, which currently appears to be weakening. By studying the complexities of Earth's protective shield, Swarm will provide a clear insight into processes occurring inside the planet. Along with measurements of conditions in the upper atmosphere, a better knowledge of the near-Earth environment and the Sun's influence on the planet can be realised.

Swarm consists of a constellation of three identical satellites. The on board magnetometers are the satellites main payload which allow for high-precision measurements of the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field. The mission was launched on 13 November 2013 and shall be operational for at least four years.

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