ESA - Sentinel-6 - Archive

ESA title

The mission

With global mean sea level rising because of climate change, Copernicus Sentinel-6 is the next radar altimetry reference mission to extend the legacy of sea-surface height measurements until at least 2030. Each satellite carries a Poseidon-4 radar altimeter and a microwave radiometer.

The launch

Date: Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich - 21 November 2020
Sentinel-6B - 17 November 2025
Site: Vandenberg, California, US
Rocket: SpaceX Falcon 9

3.2 mm yearly sea-level rise
1336 km orbit altitude
66° orbit inclination
95% ocean measured

Sentinel-6

Sentinel-6B separates from rocket

Sentinel-6B launched to extend record of sea-level rise

17/11/2025 3640 views 46 likes

Sentinel-6B release into orbit

Watch: Sentinel-6B launch live broadcast

13/11/2025 5527 views 45 likes

Sea state

Satellites reveal the power of ocean swell

08/10/2025 5183 views 57 likes

In September, mission controllers at ESA's mission control centre started a major simulations exercise to ensure that the next Copernicus Sentinel Earth Observation mission, Sentinel-6B, safely navigates its first days in space.

Enabling & Support

Rehearsing for Sentinel-6B’s early days in space

08/10/2025 1232 views 17 likes

Sentinel-6B ready to start its launch campaign

Sea-level monitoring satellite unboxed

01/10/2025 3238 views 22 likes

Copernicus Sentinel-6B on route to launch site

Sea-level monitoring satellite Sentinel-6B sets sail

23/07/2025 3436 views 34 likes

Majuro, Marshal Islands, is at risk from sea-level rise

First sea-level records for coastal community protection

25/06/2025 1846 views 37 likes

Sea-surface temperature January to mid-May 2023

Our oceans are in hot water

17/05/2023 10706 views 107 likes

Copernicus Sentinel-2 takes us over the Tarawa Atoll in the Republic of Kiribati – a remote Pacific nation threatened by rising seas.

Sentinel-6 returning most precise data ever on sea level

29/11/2021 8708 views 119 likes

Copernicus Sentinel-6 radar altimeter

New sea-level monitoring satellite goes live

21/06/2021 12164 views 102 likes

Tracking sea-level change

Sentinel-6 passes in-orbit tests with flying colours

08/02/2021 6846 views 70 likes

Copernicus Sentinel-6 over the Andes

Galileo enhancing Sentinel-6’s sea level monitoring mission

15/12/2020 3991 views 44 likes

First sea-level height results from Copernicus Sentinel-6

Sea-level monitoring satellite first results surpass expect…

10/12/2020 11436 views 94 likes

Ice lost from ice sheets contributes to sea-level rise

Enabling & Support

Over to you, Eumetsat!

24/11/2020 3829 views 69 likes

Sea-level monitoring satellite lifts off

New Copernicus satellite to monitor sea-level rise launched

21/11/2020 10184 views 68 likes

Copernicus Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich poised for liftoff

Sea-level monitoring satellite in position for liftoff

21/11/2020 7567 views 47 likes

Copernicus Sentinel-6 over the Maldives

Coastal observations boosted by new reference satellite

12/11/2020 2309 views 32 likes

Copernicus Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich ready for encapsulation

Copernicus Sentinel-6 sealed in rocket fairing

06/11/2020 3773 views 45 likes

Copernicus Sentinel-6 over Northern Europe

Follow live discussions: Sea-level rise and Sentinel-6

02/11/2020 4210 views 41 likes

Sentinel-6: charting sea level for Copernicus

Enabling & Support

Preparing for Sentinel-6's challenging early days

26/10/2020 3564 views 52 likes

Copernicus Sentinel-6 over the Maldives

Ramping up to launch sea-level charting satellite

19/10/2020 4784 views 42 likes

Sentinel-6: charting sea level for Copernicus

Call for Media: Upcoming Copernicus Sentinel-6 Michael Frei…

12/10/2020 3481 views 24 likes

Touchdown: Copernicus Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich arrives at the Vandenberg Air Force Base

Copernicus sea-level satellite arrives safely in California

25/09/2020 3550 views 50 likes

Copernicus Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich

Sea-level charting satellite passes with flying colours

21/07/2020 3563 views 70 likes

Working on Copernicus Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich

Building satellites amid COVID-19

04/05/2020 4436 views 53 likes

Copernicus Sentinel-6

Sentinel-6 satellite renamed in honour of renowned US scien…

28/01/2020 7009 views 51 likes

Copernicus Sentinel-6 on display

Sea-level monitoring satellite on show

15/11/2019 4386 views 41 likes

Copernicus Sentinel-6A ready for testing

Copernicus Sentinel-6A ready for testing

04/09/2019 3271 views 51 likes

Copernicus Sentinel-6 radiometer integration

Getting ready to chart sea level

12/04/2019 2254 views 45 likes

Sentinel-6

Ensuring the continuity of ocean topography data

11/05/2015 3955 views 29 likes

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