Sentinel-6
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| Sentinel-6 | |
|---|---|
| Name | Sentinel-6 |
| Names list | Jason-CS |
| Mission type | Earth observation |
| Operator | European Space Agency / National Aeronautics and Space Administration / NOAA / EUMETSAT |
| Mission duration | multi-year |
| Orbit type | Low Earth orbit |
| Previous mission | Jason series |
Sentinel-6 Sentinel-6 is a series of oceanographic radar altimetry satellites developed to continue the altimetry record established by the TOPEX/Poseidon and Jason (satellite) programs. It provides precise sea level and ocean circulation measurements used by climate researchers, meteorologists, and agencies responsible for maritime operations. The program links European and American space and meteorological organizations to maintain an uninterrupted climate-quality dataset.
Overview
The Sentinel-6 program, known also under the name Jason-CS, was conceived to bridge and extend the altimetry time series created by French Space Agency (CNES), NOAA, NASA, and ESA partnerships. It continues the multi-decadal mission lineage from TOPEX/Poseidon, Jason-1, Jason-2 (OSTM), and Jason-3, integrating advances from Sentinel-3 mission heritage and linking to operational services run by EUMETSAT. The platform is designed to deliver high-accuracy measurements of sea level change, ocean topography, and geophysical variables critical to assessments by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and operational forecasting by agencies such as Copernicus Programme services.
Development and Mission Objectives
Development of Sentinel-6 involved industrial prime contractors and national agencies, with key roles for Airbus Defence and Space, Thales Alenia Space, NOAA Satellite and Information Service, and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Objectives included maintaining continuity of the ocean surface topography record, improving geodetic reference frames through collaboration with International GNSS Service, and supporting climate data records used by World Meteorological Organization programs. The mission sought to meet requirements from stakeholders including United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, European Commission bodies, and national meteorological services. It emphasized calibration and validation via networks such as the Jason Calibration Sites and cooperation with institutions like Scripps Institution of Oceanography and National Physical Laboratory (United Kingdom).
Spacecraft and Instrumentation
The Sentinel-6 spacecraft carry a suite of instruments derived from prior altimetry missions: a radar altimeter similar to instruments flown on CryoSat and Envisat, a GNSS receiver for precise orbit determination using systems such as GPS, Galileo, and GLONASS, a microwave radiometer for tropospheric path-delay correction related to techniques used on TOPEX/Poseidon, and a laser retroreflector array for tracking by International Laser Ranging Service. Instrument teams included scientists from Caltech, University of Toulouse, CNRS, and University Corporation for Atmospheric Research. The platform integrates precision timing and calibration referencing compatible with the International Terrestrial Reference Frame maintained by International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service.
Launch and Operations
Launch campaigns involved coordination with primary launch providers such as SpaceX or United Launch Alliance depending on vehicle selection, and integration at facilities like Vandenberg Space Force Base or Guiana Space Centre. Post-launch commissioning followed procedures established by European Space Operations Centre and NOAA Satellite Operations Facility, including orbit raising, instrument checkout, and in-orbit calibration passes over coastal calibration sites like Fremantle, Maderia, and Catalina Island. Routine operations coordinate data downlink to ground stations in networks managed by EUMETSAT and ESA Deep Space Antennae, with near-real-time distribution to operational centers such as Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service and national forecasting centers.
Data Products and Applications
Sentinel-6 delivers geophysical data records including sea surface height, significant wave height, and wind speed at the surface, contributing to climate time series used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and assimilation into ocean models like those run by Mercator Ocean International and NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory. Data supports tsunami and storm surge modeling used by agencies such as United States Geological Survey for hazard assessment, marine navigation guidance from International Maritime Organization regulations, and fisheries management informed by Food and Agriculture Organization. Climate researchers at institutions like Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory and Plymouth Marine Laboratory use time series to study ice sheet interactions and regional sea level fingerprints associated with events cataloged by Paleoclimate records. Products are formatted to standards promulgated by Committee on Earth Observation Satellites and distributed via portals used by European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts and national data archives.
International Collaboration and Governance
The Sentinel-6 partnership exemplifies multi-agency governance with formal agreements among European Commission, ESA, EUMETSAT, NOAA, and NASA. Program oversight incorporates contributions from national metrology institutes, space agencies such as CNES and industrial partners including Thales Alenia Space and Airbus Defence and Space. Scientific advisory boards include experts from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and policy liaisons to bodies like United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Data policy aligns with open-access mandates similar to those of the Copernicus Programme and coordination protocols under Group on Earth Observations and World Meteorological Organization frameworks to ensure continuity, calibration, and utility for global stakeholders.