Sentinel-3A

Sentinel-3A is a European Space Agency Earth observation satellite dedicated to oceanography which launched on 16 February 2016.[5] 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.

Sentinel-3A
Vector drawing of the Sentinel-3
Mission typeEarth observation
OperatorESA · EUMETSAT
COSPAR ID2016-011A
SATCAT no.41335
WebsiteSentinel-3 (ESA)
Mission durationPlanned: 7 years[1]
Elapsed: 4 years, 11 months, 5 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeSentinel-3
BusPrima
ManufacturerThales Alenia Space[2]
Launch mass1,250 kg (2,760 lb)[3]
Dry mass1,150 kg (2,540 lb)[4]
Dimensions3.9 × 2.2 × 2.2 m (12.8 × 7.2 × 7.2 ft)[3]
Power2,300 watts[3]
Start of mission
Launch date16 February 2016, 17:57 (2016-02-16UTC17:57) UTC[5]
RocketRokot
Launch sitePlesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 133
ContractorEurockot Launch Services
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeSun-synchronous
Semi-major axis7,182.47 km (4,462.98 mi)
Eccentricity0.000309
Perigee altitude802.12 km (498.41 mi)
Apogee altitude806.56 km (501.17 mi)
Inclination98.62°
Period100.97 min
RAAN117.18°
Argument of perigee86.80°
Mean motion14.26 rev/day
Repeat interval27 days[6]
Epoch17 February 2016, 18:53:04 UTC[7]
Transponders
BandS band (TT&C support)
X band (science data)
BandwidthS band: 64 kbps uplink, 1 Mbps downlink
X band: 2 × 280 Mbps[1]
 

Mission history

In October 2015, the Sentinel-3A launch was planned for December 2015,[8] but delays in transportation from Cannes to the Plesetsk Cosmodrome postponed the launch to January 2016.[9] The spacecraft arrived at Talagi Airport aboard an Antonov An-124 on 28 November.[10][11] By 17 December, Sentinel-3A completed pre-launch testing and was placed into storage for the Christmas break, lasting until 11 January 2016.[12] After the break, launch was scheduled for 4 February,[13] 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.[14] Launch was eventually rescheduled for 16 February.[15]

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 815 km (506 mi) 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.[5][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]

References
  1. "Sentinel-3 › Satellite Description". European Space Agency. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  2. "Sentinel-3A arrived at launch site" (Press release). Thales Alenia Space. 2 December 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  3. "Copernicus: Sentinel-3". eoPortal. European Space Agency. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  4. "Satellite: Sentinel-3A". World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  5. Bergin, Chris; Graham, William (16 February 2016). "Russian Rokot launches Sentinel-3A". NASA Spaceflight. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  6. "Sentinel-3 › Mission Summary". European Space Agency. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  7. "Sentinel 3A - Orbit". Heavens Above. 17 February 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  8. "Sentinel-3A shows off". European Space Agency. 15 October 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  9. "Sentinel-3A taking final steps to launch". European Space Agency. 3 December 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  10. "Safe at the launch site". European Space Agency. 4 December 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  11. "Sentinel-3A Launch Campaign Commenced". Eurockot Launch Services. 12 December 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  12. "Almost time to pack up for Christmas". European Space Agency. 17 December 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  13. "Back to Plesetsk and brrrrr... it's cold". European Space Agency. 12 January 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  14. "Satellite fuelling on hold". European Space Agency. 21 January 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  15. "Sentinel-3A gets new launch date". European Space Agency. 27 January 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  16. "Third Sentinel satellite launched for Copernicus". European Space Agency. 16 February 2016. Retrieved 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" (Press release). EUMETSAT. 2 March 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2016.

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