Arianespace To Launch ESA's First Sentinel Satellite
Paris, France (ESA) Dec 17, 2010 ESA and Arianespace have signed a contract for the launch of Sentinel-1A, the first Earth observation satellite to be built for Europe's Global Monitoring for Environment and Security programme. Sentinel-1A is scheduled for launch in December 2012 by a Soyuz rocket from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. Weighing about 2300 kg at launch, it will be placed into a Sun-synchronous, circular orbit at an altitude of about 690 km. The Sentinels are a family of satellites being developed by ESA to meet the needs of the services provided through the EU's Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) initiative. Sentinel-1 is a radar mission that will provide an all-weather, day-and-night supply of imagery for GMES ocean and land-monitoring services, including mapping forests, ground movement, sea ice and oil spills. It will be invaluable for providing information for aid workers managing relief efforts in crisis situations. The mission will also ensure the continuity of radar data from ESA's ERS and Envisat satellites. Sentinel-1 is being built by an industrial team led by Thales Alenia Space, Italy.
Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Sentinel-1A Launch Pad at Space-Travel.com
ISRO Hands Two Contracts To Arianespace Bangalore, India (SPX) Dec 06, 2010 Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has given an estimated Rs500 crore order to Arianespace and renewed the five-year contract with EADS Astrium for joint marketing of satellites, it was announced during the visit of French President Nilolas Sarkozy. "We have signed commercial agreements with Arianespace for two more launches - GSAT-8 in 2011 and GSAT-10 in 2012", ISRO Chairman K Rad ... read more |
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2010 - SpaceDaily. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |