Copernicus Sentinel-1 calibration campaign on-going in Europe

Sentinel-1A and Sentinel-1B are undergoing a routine external calibration campaign which scope is to further improve the system calibration for other modes than the IW VV+VH configuration used over landmasses.

The consequence is that the area where Sentinel-1 transponders are located (Munich area, Germany) are imaged in a different configuration than IW VV+VH, with a short observation segment.

The changes on the acquisition scenario are being minimised:

• the campaign will be as short as possible : 3 cycles for S1A and 3 cycles for S-1B in sequence, such that the area will continue to be imaged in IW VV+VH with the other satellite.
• the number of acquisitions will be reduced to the minimum required to achieve good calibration results.

The affected overpasses are provided below.

• Sentinel-1A acquisitions from relative orbit 117 will be performed in IW HH+HV on 09/01/2021, 21/01/2021 and 02/02/2021
• Sentinel-1A acquisitions from relative orbit 168 will be performed in IW HH+HV on 13/01/2021, 25/01/2021 and 06/02/2021
• Sentinel-1A acquisitions from relative orbit 66 will be performed in IW HH+HV on 18/01/2021, 30/01/2021 and 11/02/2021
• Sentinel-1B acquisitions from relative orbit 117 will be performed in IW HH+HV on 20/02/2021, 04/03/2021 and 16/03/2021
• Sentinel-1B acquisitions from relative orbit 168 will be performed in IW HH+HV on 24/02/2021, 08/03/2021 and 20/03/2021
• Sentinel-1B acquisitions from relative orbit 66 will be performed in IW HH+HV on 01/03/2021, 13/03/2021 and 25/03/2021

These specific changes will be visible within the detailed acquisitions plans published at: Sentinel-1 Acquisition Segments

The same operation may be followed for the EW mode later on in the year, related information will be provided in due time.

We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause but we trust this is an essential activity to maintain the quality of the Sentinel-1 products.