Ariane 62 : Sentinel-1D : H2 2025

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/thales_alenia_s/status/1711734621275128069

.@esa's #Sentinel -1D ready for thermal vacuum tests, which simulate the thermal conditions that the satellite will experience in orbit above Earth and demonstrate that the satellite will function correctly in the harsh environment of #space #copernicus #climatechange

[GWR64]

https://twitter.com/Thales_Alenia_S/status/1784867741708456098

Thales Alenia Space
@Thales_Alenia_S
.@ESA_EO
  #Sentinel-1D has successfully completed the thermal vacuum tests, which simulate the thermal conditions that the  satellite will experience in orbit 🛰️🚀
In the 📷, the team at Thales Alenia Space’s plant in Rome, Italy 👏

[GWR64]

https://twitter.com/Thales_Alenia_S/status/1802686670019367267

The Copernicus Sentinel-1D 🛰 is currently undergoing a series of tests at our plant in Rome, 🇮🇹 including carefully unfolding the 10 m-long solar wings.  As the satellite is designed to operate in orbit,the wings are supported by a device during tests to simulate weightlessness.

[GWR64]

https://twitter.com/Thales_Alenia_S/status/1814296214180880598

Thales Alenia Space
@Thales_Alenia_S
📢 Sentinel-1D satellite has arrived at Thales Alenia Space’s Cannes plant, after being shipped from the company’s plant in Rome.
Our teams in Rome worked without letup during the initial testing phase, concluding with a very challenging mechanical vibration  test

[GWR64]

https://twitter.com/Thales_Alenia_S/status/1816824030965485742

Thales Alenia Space
@Thales_Alenia_S
Ever seen a rocket launch?! Imagine the satellite sitting on top of the launcher and how much noise it’s exposed to!  At Thales Alenia Space we make sure that our 🛰️ can withstand such an extreme acoustic environment #Sentinel-1D in the Acoustic Chamber of Cannes

the rocket, Sentinel 1C and 1D within a relatively short period of time on Vega-C? we will see

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post; my bold:

Start: Sentinel-1A: 3. April 2014, Sentinel-1B: 25. April 2016 (außer Betrieb), Sentinel-1C: Dez. 2024, Sentinel-1D: Q4/2025, Sentinel-1 NG: ab 2032

https://d-copernicus.de/daten/satelliten/satelliten-details/news/sentinel-1/

[GWR64]

https://twitter.com/Thales_Alenia_S/status/1816824030965485742

Thales Alenia Space
@Thales_Alenia_S
Ever seen a rocket launch?! Imagine the satellite sitting on top of the launcher and how much noise it’s exposed to!  At Thales Alenia Space we make sure that our 🛰️ can withstand such an extreme acoustic environment #Sentinel-1D in the Acoustic Chamber of Cannes

the rocket, Sentinel 1C and 1D within a relatively short period of time on Vega-C? we will see

Sentinel 1D launch Q1/2026 writes CNES https://cnes.fr/projets/copernicus (probably NET)

Sentinel-1D is almost ready for launch, but remains on the ground. Sentinel-1A may not last until 2026.
great

[GWR64]

Cross-post; my bold:

Start: Sentinel-1A: 3. April 2014, Sentinel-1B: 25. April 2016 (außer Betrieb), Sentinel-1C: Dez. 2024, Sentinel-1D: Q4/2025, Sentinel-1 NG: ab 2032

https://d-copernicus.de/daten/satelliten/satelliten-details/news/sentinel-1/

We'll see, maybe Sentinel 1D will be preferred over FLEX/Altius. Or one satellite won't be ready.
But regardless, I think CO3D will be launch on VV27.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Sentinel-1D is switching its ride to Ariane 62 with launch in the 2nd half of 2025:

https://newsroom.arianespace.com/the-european-commission-esa-and-eumetsat-sign-two-agreements-with-arianespace-on-ariane-6?lang=eng

The European Commission, ESA, and EUMETSAT sign two agreements with Arianespace on Ariane 6

28.01.2025

* The European Union Copernicus Sentinel-1D satellite will fly on board Ariane 6, in the second half of 2025.

* With Ariane 6, Arianespace ensures Europe’s autonomous access to space.

Arianespace signs two agreements on Ariane 6 with key European institutions at the 17th European Space Conference. The European Commission, the European Space Agency (ESA) and EUMETSAT have reaffirmed their support for Ariane 6, Europe’s new heavy-lift launcher.

The European Commission and ESA have entrusted Arianespace with the launch of Sentinel-1D in the second half of 2025, with the 2-booster version of Ariane 6 (Ariane 62). The satellite is part of Copernicus, the Earth observation component of the European Union’s Space Programme. As the world’s most advanced Earth observation system, Copernicus provides continuous, free, and reliable Earth observation data and services to public authorities, companies and citizens around the globe. Sentinel-1D will carry advanced radar technology to provide an all-weather, day-and-night supply of imagery of the Earth’s surface, delivering data essential to monitoring sea ice, track icebergs and glaciers, subsidence, and oil spills.

...

David Cavaillolès, CEO of Arianespace, declared; “By reaffirming their trust towards Europe’s new heavy-lift Ariane 6 launcher, our European partners strengthen Europe’s space industry and its sovereignty. We are extremely proud to deliver what we are committed to providing: Europe’s autonomous access to space. I thank once again the European Commission, ESA and EUMETSAT for entrusting Arianespace and Ariane 6.”

“This year, the Ariane 6 launcher will play a key role to secure and sustain the operations of Copernicus with the launch of Sentinel-1D and the launch of Sentinel-5A on board of Metop-SG-A1. The choice of Ariane 6 is a clear sign of the European Commission’s engagement to support the European launcher industry,’’ said Director for Satellite Navigation and Earth Observation at the European Commission, Christoph Kautz.

“Developed by ESA, these satellite missions are equipped with state-of-the-art technology to deliver crucial data that brings significant benefits to both society and the economy. With our European partners, the European Commission and EUMETSAT we are very happy that the Ariane 6 launcher will carry these precious missions into space, enabling them to begin their operational life in Earth's orbit,” said Simonetta Cheli, ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programmes.

[jacqmans]

Ariane 6 to take Sentinel-1D into orbit
28/01/2025

Entrusted by the European Commission, ESA has signed a contract with Arianespace to secure an Ariane 6 rocket for the launch of the Sentinel-1D satellite, the fourth unit of the Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission, scheduled for the second half of this year.

The agreement, signed today at the 17th Space Conference in Brussels, ensures the launch of the Copernicus Sentinel-1D satellite aboard Europe’s new two-booster Ariane 6 rocket, known as Ariane 62.

Christoph Kautz, Director for Satellite Navigation and Earth Observation at the European Commission, said, “This agreement underscores the importance of having Sentinel-1D in orbit very soon to bolster the Sentinel-1 mission, a mission that is fundamental to Copernicus – the Earth observation component of the EU’s Space Programme.”

With liftoff planned for later this year, the Copernicus Sentinel-1D satellite will soon join its sibling, Sentinel-1C, which was launched last December. Sentinel-1D will replace the older Sentinel-1A satellite, which has been in orbit for almost 11 years now, well beyond its planned lifetime.

Developed by ESA for the European Commission, the Sentinel-1 mission is based on a constellation of two identical satellites flying in the same orbit but 180° apart to optimise global coverage and data delivery for Copernicus.

Carrying advanced radar technology to provide an all-weather supply of imagery of Earth’s surface, the ambitious Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission has raised the bar for spaceborne radar.

The mission contributes to numerous Copernicus services and applications, including Arctic sea-ice monitoring, iceberg tracking, routine sea-ice mapping and glacier-velocity measurements.

It also plays a vital role in marine surveillance, such as oil-spill detection, ship tracking for maritime security and monitoring illegal fishing activities, and more.

Additionally, it is widely used for observing ground deformation caused by subsidence, earthquakes and volcanic activity, as well as for mapping forests, water and soil resources.

The mission is crucial in supporting humanitarian aid and responding to crises worldwide.

Sentinel-1C and Sentinel-1D introduce new capabilities for detecting and monitoring maritime traffic, through their integrated Automatic Identification System instrument.

This system comprises four onboard antennas and optimises the capture of signals transmitted by ships, which include crucial details such as a vessel identity, location and direction of passage, enabling precise tracking.

ESA’s Director of Space Transportation, Toni Tolker-Nielsen, said, “With a choice of either two or four powerful boosters and a new restartable upper stage, the new Ariane 6 rockets provide Europe with greater efficiency and possibilities for launching a wide range of spacecraft.

“Today's signature further highlights the importance of collaboration, leveraging respective expertise to strengthen Europe’s role in space and enhance our collective responsibility to safeguard the planet.”

ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programmes Simonetta Cheli, added, “Developed by ESA, the Sentinel-1 satellites are equipped with state-of-the-art technology to deliver crucial data that bring significant benefits to both society and the economy.

“With our European partners, we are very happy that the Ariane 6 launcher will carry the next Sentinel-1 satellite into space, enabling it to begin its operational life in Earth's orbit.”

https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-1/Ariane_6_to_take_Sentinel-1D_into_orbit#msdynmkt_trackingcontext=23e1979a-eac9-4c1b-a08d-c4e871c9a055

[GWR64]

Will Sentinel 1D have a co-passenger?
A single launch on A62 (perhaps with some smaller satellites) will likely be more expensive than a launch on Vega-C.
Who will pay for it? Avio has caused the logjam in Vega-C launches!
The Sentinel-1 orbits are a SSO with LTDN 06:00 (LTAN 18:00).
Although I sometimes confuse LTDN and LTAN.
The SSO of the other radar satellites in Arianespace's order book (CSG-3 and Kompsat-6) are about 06:00 LTAN.

edit: Biomass probably also LTAN 06:00.

[TheKutKu]

Will Sentinel 1D have a co-passenger?
A single launch on A62 (perhaps with some smaller satellites) will likely be more expensive than a launch on Vega-C.
Who will pay for it? Avio has caused the logjam in Vega-C launches!
The only major satellite with a similar orbit would be Biomass, I think.
The Sentinel-1 and Biomass orbits are a SSO with LTDN 06:00 (LTAN 18:00).
Although I sometimes confuse LTDN and LTAN.
The SSO of the other radar satellites in Arianespace's order book (CSG-3 and Kompsat-6) are about 06:00 LTAN.

Of course, if Biomass is launched on A62, then a Vega-C would be freed up for Sentinel-1D 

[GWR64]

Will Sentinel 1D have a co-passenger?
A single launch on A62 (perhaps with some smaller satellites) will likely be more expensive than a launch on Vega-C.
Who will pay for it? Avio has caused the logjam in Vega-C launches!
The only major satellite with a similar orbit would be Biomass, I think.
The Sentinel-1 and Biomass orbits are a SSO with LTDN 06:00 (LTAN 18:00).
Although I sometimes confuse LTDN and LTAN.
The SSO of the other radar satellites in Arianespace's order book (CSG-3 and Kompsat-6) are about 06:00 LTAN.

Of course, if Biomass is launched on A62, then a Vega-C would be freed up for Sentinel-1D 

 

I did some more research and Biomass’ orbit probably doesn’t match Sentinel 1D either.
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=59670.msg2663277#msg2663277

It will probably turn out that the taxpayer will have to cover the additional costs of 30 million euros (or so).
Rideshare payloads will probably not be able to compensate for this.
And this is presented to the public as a success. Of course with the new Arianespace boss
Together with two other Ariane 6 launch orders that have existed before. Metop-SG-A1 and Galileo L17.
ARIANESPACE TO LAUNCH THE FIRST FOUR SECOND-GENERATION SATELLITES FOR GALILEO ON ARIANE 6 29.04.2024