ESA's Sentinel satellites
Sentinels-4/-5
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Sentinel-4
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The Sentinel-4 and Sentinel-5 missions are dedicated to monitoring the composition of the atmosphere for GMES Atmosphere Services. Both missions will be carried on meteorological satellites operated by Eumetsat.
To be carried on the geostationary Meteosat Third Generation satellites, the Sentinel-4 mission comprises an Ultraviolet Visible Near-infrared (UVN) spectrometer and data from Eumetsat's thermal InfraRed Sounder (IRS), both embarked on the MTG-Sounder (MTG-S) satellite. After the MTG-S satellite is in orbit, the Sentinel-4 mission also includes data from Eumetsat's Flexible Combined Imager (FCI) embarked on the MTG-Imager (MTG-I) satellite.
The first MTG-S satellite is expected to launch in 2019 and the first MTG-I in 2017.
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Sentinels-4/-5 for air monitoring services
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To be carried on the polar-orbiting MetOp Second Generation satellite, the Sentinel-5 mission comprises an Ultraviolet Visible Near-infrared Shortwave (UVNS) spectrometer and data from Eumetsat's IRS, the Visible Infrared Imager (VII) and the Multi-viewing Multi-channel Multi-polarization Imager (3MI).
The first MetOp Second Generation satellite is expected to launch in 2020.
In addition, a Sentinel-5 Precursor mission is being developed to avoid any gap between Envisat, in particular the Sciamachy instrument, and the launch of Sentinel-5.
Sentinel-5 Precursor is scheduled to launch in 2015. As a joint initiative between ESA and the Netherlands the mission will comprise a satellite and a UVNS instrument called Tropomi.
The Sentinel-4 and -5 missions will provide information on atmospheric variables in support of European policies. Services will include the monitoring of air quality, stratospheric ozone and solar radiation, and climate monitoring.
Last update: 2 December 2011
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Related news
| | • | Agreement between the Netherlands and ESA signed for Sentinel-5 Precursor instrument (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEMP8BLXOWF_LPgmes_0.html) | |
More information
| | • | Mission Requirements Document GMES Sentinels-4/-5 (http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/GMES/Sentinel4and5MRDissue1rev0signed.pdf) | | | • | Sentinel-4 facts & figures (.pdf) (http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/S4-Data_Sheet.pdf) | | | • | Sentinel-5 (Precursor) facts and figures (.pdf) (http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/S5-prec_Data_Sheet.pdf) | |
Related links
| | • | European Commission GMES site (http://ec.europa.eu/gmes/index_en.htm) | | | • | Eumetsat (http://www.eumetsat.int/Home/index.htm) | |
Announcements of Opportunity
| | • | Mission Advisory Group Applications (http://missionadvice.esa.int) | |
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