Progress report for
Launching a new generation of satellites for ocean observation
Achievement at a glance
The Copernicus Sentinel-3 mission currently provides ocean measurement capability with consistent quality in a sustained operational manner.The future Sentinel-3, the Sentinel 3 NextGeneration mission - in line with the user requirements – is now in the design and development stage and it consists of two distinct satellites to be placed in optimised orbits: the Sentinel-3 NG Topography and a Sentinel-3 NG Optical mission, with two spacecraft each.
The two Sentinel-3 NG Optical satellites, planned to be launched at the end of 2034 (A unit) and end of 2036 (B unit), will guarantee continuity of high-quality multi-spectral and thermal measurements as provided by the Sentinel-3 mission for the support of the Commission operational services and European stakeholders. They will also provide enhanced observing capabilities for the next generation of operational colour and thermal products addressing the evolving user needs.
The Sentinel-3 Next Generation Topography (S3NG-T) provides enhanced continuity of the Copernicus Sentinel-3 radar altimetry component. It addresses the need for a timely extension of the current capability in terms of stability and continuity, while increasing the quantity and quality of products and services.
The feasibility and preliminary definition of both Sentinel-3 NG Optical Sentinel-3 Next Generation Topography missions are reaching the successful completion in the coming months.
Next Steps
Benedicte CaremierBeneficiaries
EU Member States
Actions
The methods and assumptions driving the design and development of the S3 NG satellites are based on the users’ needs. This is in line with the Copernicus approach where Copernicus should serve first core users defined as:- Copernicus core users: European Union institutions and bodies, European, national, regional or local authorities entrusted with the definition, implementation,
enforcement or monitoring of a public service or policy, as per the corresponding piece of EU legislation;
- research users: universities or any other research and education organisations;
- commercial and private users;
- charities, non-governmental and international organisations.