The Sentinel-3 mission is designed as a two-satellite constellation for optimal global coverage and data delivery. Sentinel-3A is expected to be launched in mid-2015 and Sentinel-3B will follow about 18 months later. The two identical instrument packages and satellites are therefore being built and tested in parallel.
The signature of a €450 million contract to build two more satellites for the Sentinel-3 mission was celebrated by ESA and Thales Alenia Space of France at an event in Paris yesterday.Sentinel-3 is based on a constellation of two satellites to systematically measure Earth’s oceans, land, ice and atmosphere to monitor and understand large-scale global dynamics.The first – Sentinel-3A – is set for launch next week, while its sister satellite Sentinel-3B planned for launch in 2017.While Thales Alenia Space has been leading a consortium of more than 100 companies to build the first two units, the contract signed yesterday initiates the development of Sentinel-3C and -3D, ensuring data continuity for Europe’s environment monitoring Copernicus programme until 2030.