Over 25 years ago, Copernicus set out to transform the way we see our planet. Now, it is now the largest Earth observation data provider in the world.

With seven Copernicus Sentinel satellites in orbit, along with contributing missions and in situ sensors, terabytes of free and open data and information services are provided daily to hundreds of thousands of users.

The data help address some of today’s key challenges such as diminishing polar ice, food security, rising sea levels, natural disasters and, of course, climate change.

Copernicus is headed by the European Commission in partnership with ESA. ESA takes on the crucial responsibility of coordinating the space component, observing the implementation and guiding its ongoing development and evolution. 

This video features interviews with Simonetta Cheli, Director of Earth Observation Programmes at ESA, Valerie Fernandez, CO2M Mission Project Manager, Kristof Gantois, CRISTAL Project Manager, Craig Donlon, Head of System Architect Office, Mark Drinkwater, Head of Earth & Mission Sciences Division, Josef Aschbacher, ESA Director General, Nicolaus Hanowski, Head of Earth Observation Mission Management & Ground Segment Department, Ana Bolea Alamanac, LSTM Mission Project Manager, Ilias Manolis, LSTM Mission Payload Manager, Giorgio Bagnasco, Sentinel-4 Mission Project Manager and Anna Burzykowska, Copernicus Innovation Officer. 

Access all "Unpacking Sentinels" videos.