Sentinel-6B
Context:
The Copernicus Sentinel-6B satellite was successfully launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California
About Sentinel-6B:
It is an ocean-tracking satellite designed to extend the decades-long record of sea-surface height measurements which began in the early 1990s.
Copernicus Program:
It is the second of two identical satellites in the Copernicus Sentinel-6 mission, which serves as the world’s primary reference mission for satellite sea-surface height measurements.
Its twin Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich was launched in November 2020
It is a joint mission involving ESA, NASA, Eumetsat, NOAA, and the European Commission with support from the French space agency CNES.
Significance:
"Gold Standard" Record:
It serves as the world's primary reference mission for satellite sea-surface height measurements, that provides data with high precision (down to approximately an inch) for over 90% of the oceans.
Climate Change Indicator:
By tracking the height of the planet's seas, it provides crucial data for understanding sea-level rise which is a key measure of climate change.
Applications:
Weather Forecasting:
The data on significant wave height and wind speed improves the accuracy of weather forecasts (including real-time predictions for storms and floods)
Infrastructure Protection:
Accurate sea-level data enables administrators to make better decisions to safeguard public property and protect coastal infrastructure
Maritime Security:
The data is vital for securing undersea pipeline and cable networks as well as supporting shipping services
Oceanography:
It maps 95% of Earth's ice-free ocean every 10 days offering vital information on ocean currents.