With rigorous training complete, satellite operations teams are ready to assume control of Sentinel-1B - and for any problems that might come along.

On Friday, ESA's Sentinel-1B is set to join identical twin Sentinel-1A in orbit to deliver all-weather, day-and-night radar images of Earth's surface as part of Europe's Copernicus programme.

The two satellites working in tandem will cover the whole planet every six days, supporting vital services such as monitoring Arctic sea ice, surveillance of the marine environment and mapping for forest, water and soil management.

In preparation for flight, teams at ESA's control centre in Darmstadt, Germany, were immersed in intensive training for the past few months, completing 15 day-long simulation sessions.