Editor's note: This page is no longer being updated, but will be preserved as a record. Click here for the latest information on Sentinel-1.The Sentinel-1 mission is a polar-orbiting satellite constellation for the continuation of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) operational applications.Sentinel-1 is a C-band imaging radar mission that provides an all-weather day-and-night supply of imagery for Copernicus user services. The first of the dual Sentinel-1 satellites, -1A, was launched on 3 April 2014 and its identical twin, -1B, was launched on 25 April 2016.

Editor's note: This page is no longer being updated, but will be preserved as a record. Click here for the latest information on Sentinel-2.The Sentinels are a fleet of satellites designed specifically to deliver the wealth of data and imagery that are central to the European Commission’s Copernicus programme. This unique environmental monitoring programme is changing the way we manage our environment, understand and tackle the effects of climate change and safeguard everyday lives.Sentinel-2 carries an innovative wide-swath high-resolution multispectral imager with 13 spectral bands for new perspectives of our land and vegetation. The combination of high resolution, novel spectral capabilities, a swath width of 290 km and frequent revisit times will provide unprecedented views of Earth.The ‘space segment’ of the Sentinel-2 mission comprises a constellation of two identical satellites in the same orbit, 180° apart for optimal coverage and data delivery. Together they cover all Earth’s land surfaces, large islands, inland and coastal waters every five days at the equator.Both spacecraft are operated by a dedicated Flight Control Team from ESA’s European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) Darmstadt, Germany.Sentinel-2A has been in orbit since 23 June 2015, and Sentinel-2B launched on 7 March 2017.

Editor's note: This page is no longer being updated, but will be preserved as a record. Click here for the latest information on Sentinel-5P and Sentinel-5.The Sentinels are a fleet of satellites designed specifically to deliver the wealth of data and imagery that are central to the European Commission’s Copernicus programme. This unique environmental monitoring programme is changing the way we manage our environment, understand and tackle the effects of climate change and safeguard everyday lives.Sentinel-5 Precursor – also known as Sentinel-5P – is the first Copernicus mission dedicated to monitoring our atmosphere. The satellite carries the state-of-the-art Tropomi instrument to map a multitude of trace gases such as nitrogen dioxide, ozone, formaldehyde, sulphur dioxide, methane, carbon monoxide and aerosols – all of which affect the air we breathe and therefore our health, and our climate.With a swath width of 2600 km, it will map the entire planet every day. The mission will also contribute to services such as volcanic ash monitoring for aviation safety and for services that warn of high levels of UV radiation which can cause skin damage. In addition, scientists will also use the data to improve our knowledge of important processes in the atmosphere related to the climate and to the formation of holes in the ozone layer.On an interesting operational note, Sentinel-5P’s orbit will be synchronised to that of the US Suomi-NPP mission, enabling valuable synergies between the two missions’ data. This is achieved through coordination with NOAA and NASA via an exchange of orbital data.Sentinel-5P is operated by a dedicated Flight Control Team from ESA’s European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) Darmstadt, Germany.