Tag: ESA

Sentinel-6B Satellite Launched for Sea-Level Monitoring

Airbus-built Sentinel-6B satellite before departing to launch site | Photo: Airbus

The Airbus-built Sentinel-6B satellite has launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base to continue long-term monitoring of global sea-surface height. Developed through a partnership involving ESA, NASA, EUMETSAT, NOAA and CNES, the satellite will operate alongside Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich for its first year before taking over as the reference mission for sea-level measurements, supporting climate research, coastal planning and marine forecasting.

‘Successful’ launch for Europe’s new Ariane 6 rocket

Ariane 6 launches to the sky on July 09, 2024 | Photo: European Space Agency/S. Corvaja

The European Space Agency (ESA) described the operation as a success, as Europe seeks to recover from a crisis in its launch sector, although an auxiliary drive in the upper stage, which was supposed to burn up on the way back to Earth, stopped shortly after ignition, with the two re-entry capsules not being released and the upper stage now remaining in space with the two capsules.