Sentinel-6B Satellite
Context: Sentinel-6B, a new ocean-monitoring satellite, has been successfully launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base to enhance global sea-level monitoring.
About Sentinel-6B Satellite:
What it is?
- Sentinel-6B is an advanced ocean-altimetry satellite designed to measure global sea-surface height, waves, winds and climate-driven changes in ocean dynamics with high precision.
Launched By: A joint mission of NASA, NOAA, European Space Agency (ESA), Eumetsat, the European Commission, with support from CNES.
- Lunched aboard a SpaceX Falcon-9
Aim:
- To provide continuous, high-accuracy measurements of sea-level rise, ocean temperature patterns, and sea-state data to improve climate modelling, storm forecasting, and coastal resilience planning.
Key Features:
- Radar Altimeter: Measures sea-surface height by timing radar pulses to millimetre accuracy.
- Advanced Microwave Radiometer: Corrects atmospheric water-vapour errors for more precise altimetry.
- 6 science instruments enabling sea-level measurement accuracy to ~1 inch across 90% of global oceans.
- Orbits Earth at 2 km/s, completing one revolution every 112 minutes.
- Continuation of the Topex-Poseidon → Jason-1/2/3 → Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich legacy record since early 1990s.
Significance:
- Provides the world’s gold-standard reference dataset for sea-surface height—critical for tracking sea-level rise.
- Enhances weather and storm forecasting, especially cyclones, floods and wave prediction.
- Supports maritime safety, submarine cable/pipeline protection, and climate adaptation planning.