Dear Users,
Following a S-1A platform anomaly impacting the thruster in charge of the orbit inclination control, ESA has decided in agreement with the European Commission to suspend the orbit inclination control maneuvers, for spacecraft safety reasons.
This decision has further consequences on the Sentinel-1 orbit which, since the beginning of the mission, is maintained within 200m RMS diameter tube. Starting mid-April 2024, the orbit inclination will naturally evolve following a yearly pattern further modulated by a secular drift. The evolution of the Sentinel-1 orbit for the next 5 years hasbeen simulated and assessed for what concerns INSAR applications. The result of the analysis is made available on the TN available here.
The ESA assessment, further confirmed by field experts, indicates an acceptable impact for INSAR, with an estimated degradation in terms of coherence loss compliant with all INSAR applications and techniques. The first of version of the TN presents the simulation results. A second version is expected later this year with actual measurements.
ESA will closely monitor the evolution of the situation within the next months and may take complementary actionsto further support INSAR applications.
Dear Users,
Following a S-1A platform anomaly impacting the thruster in charge of the orbit inclination control, ESA has decided in agreement with the European Commission to suspend the orbit inclination control maneuvers, for spacecraft safety reasons.
This decision has further consequences on the Sentinel-1 orbit which, since the beginning of the mission, is maintained within 200m RMS diameter tube. Starting mid-April 2024, the orbit inclination will naturally evolve following a yearly pattern further modulated by a secular drift. The evolution of the Sentinel-1 orbit for the next 5 years hasbeen simulated and assessed for what concerns INSAR applications. The result of the analysis is made available on the TN available here.
The ESA assessment, further confirmed by field experts, indicates an acceptable impact for INSAR, with an estimated degradation in terms of coherence loss compliant with all INSAR applications and techniques. The first of version of the TN presents the simulation results. A second version is expected later this year with actual measurements.
ESA will closely monitor the evolution of the situation within the next months and may take complementary actionsto further support INSAR applications.