The Copernicus Sentinel-1D satellite was launched on 4 November 2025. This animation illustrates the key stages of its post-launch deployment, including the extension of its solar arrays and the unfolding of its Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) antenna.

Sentinel-1D’s deployment was a carefully planned, step-by-step sequence. After launch, the satellite gradually unfolds its main external structures: its two solar arrays (the 'wings’ that generate electricity) and its SAR (a radar instrument used to image Earth). From start to finish, the full deployment took more than six hours.

This short animation compresses the full deployment process into less than two minutes. Using real flight data, it shows the satellite’s real-time orientation in space (known as its attitude) throughout each deployment step. After deployment, the satellite transitions to its nominal operating attitude: the SAR points towards Earth with a certain angle, and the solar arrays align with the Sun direction to maximise the generated power.

The SAR antenna deploys in four main steps. Each step takes roughly 20 minutes from the moment it is released to the moment it is firmly secured. 

The solar arrays deploy more quickly, taking about five minutes each. They unfold from their stowed configuration and perform a small final rotation. Once the satellite reaches its final attitude, the solar panels are oriented to capture sunlight efficiently, thus maximising power generation.

Overall, the deployment completes in six steps, in this order: front synthetic aperture radar partial deployment; front solar array deployment and rotation; rear synthetic aperture radar partial deployment, rear solar array deployment and rotation, and finally the completion of the synthetic aperture radar deployment on both sides.

Although the orientation (attitude) of the satellite during the deployment phase seems chaotic this was carefully planned and expected.