Copernicus Sentinel-6 carries a radar altimeter to observe changes in sea-surface topography with centimeter precision, providing insights into global sea levels, the speed and direction of ocean currents, and ocean heat storage. Credit: ESA – P. Carril, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
A European satellite built to carry out precise measurements of sea level changes has arrived in California in preparation for launch. The Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite forms part of the European Union’s Copernicus Earth Observation program and will employ radar to map sea surface topography.
The mission will be used to monitor the height of the sea surface to understand long-term change. It will also measure wave height and wind speed. The satellite will provide fundamental data for climate science, policy-making and protecting the 600 million people who live in vulnerable coastal areas.
Copernicus Sentinel-2 images of the Maldives, new in-orbit animations and clean-room footage from testing in Germany. Credit: ESA
Data are provided to Copernicus services in near-real time to improve marine and weather forecasts used by maritime and coastal communities.
The mission is a collaboration between ESA, the European Commission, EUMETSAT, NASA and NOAA, with support from the French Space Agency CNES.
It is named Michael Freilich after NASA’s former Director of Earth Science and is scheduled for launch on November 10, 2020, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Vandenberg Air Force Base.
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