Last glimpse of Sentinel-1D before space

Have you ever wondered what a satellite looks like from within its launcher before blasting off into space? Here, Sentinel-1D is pictured while being encapsulated within the fairing of Ariane 6, at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. From this moment on, it will be sealed off from the outside world, awaiting in darkness and silence, the thunderous ignition that will carry it into space on 4 November 2025. 

The Sentinel-1 mission delivers high-resolution radar images of Earth’s surface, performing in all weathers, day-and-night. This service is used by disaster response teams, environmental agencies, maritime authorities and climate scientists, who depend on frequent updates of critical data.