The European Space Agency and the European Commission announce the end of the mission for the Copernicus Sentinel-1B satellite and regret the inconvenience caused to the Copernicus Services, Copernicus Participating States, and the many users worldwide affected by the lack of Sentinel-1B data.
Following the previous news on the Sentinel-1B anomaly that occurred on 23 December 2021, the very detailed investigations related to the satellite power system’s affected unit have been completed. The conclusions drawn by the Anomaly Review Board resulted in the impossibility to recover the 28V regulated bus of the C-SAR Antenna Power Supply unit (CAPS), which provides power to the radar electronics. The capability of Sentinel-1B to support the mission is therefore considered lost.
A summary report of the description of the anomaly, of the investigations and the recovery attempts, as well as the parallel Sentinel-1 mission level actions and way forward is available here.
Copernicus Sentinel-1A remains fully operational. Strong efforts have been deployed to launch Sentinel-1C as early as possible, the current plans target a launch in the second quarter of 2023. The successful VEGA-C maiden flight on 13 July 2022 marks a major milestone towards the launch of Sentinel-1C.
The Sentinel-1B satellite remains under control, all systems except the power affected unit, which prevents the radar from being switched on, continue to function nominally. Regular orbit control manoeuvres are routinely performed. The preparation of the Sentinel-1B disposal phase has started. It requires detailed analyses in the domains of satellite engineering, mission analysis and flight operations. This preparatory phase is planned to last until the end March 2023, indicatively. The execution of the Sentinel-1B disposal cannot take place in parallel to the Sentinel-1A operations and to the Sentinel-1C related activities (launch preparation, launch execution and Commissioning). The start of the Sentinel-1B disposal is therefore planned to take place after the Sentinel-1C In-Orbit Commissioning Review (IOCR), indicatively during the third quarter of 2023. The de-orbiting activities will last several months (current estimate in the order of 9 months).
The de-orbiting of Sentinel-1B is an example of ESA’s and EU’s commitments to clean and responsible space. It will be performed according to the safety and clean space environment requirements in place for ESA projects at the time of design of Sentinel-1A and Sentinel-1B (re-entry in the atmosphere within maximum 25 years).
The European Space Agency and the European Commission announce the end of the mission for the Copernicus Sentinel-1B satellite and regret the inconvenience caused to the Copernicus Services, Copernicus Participating States, and the many users worldwide affected by the lack of Sentinel-1B data.
Following the previous news on the Sentinel-1B anomaly that occurred on 23 December 2021, the very detailed investigations related to the satellite power system’s affected unit have been completed. The conclusions drawn by the Anomaly Review Board resulted in the impossibility to recover the 28V regulated bus of the C-SAR Antenna Power Supply unit (CAPS), which provides power to the radar electronics. The capability of Sentinel-1B to support the mission is therefore considered lost.
A summary report of the description of the anomaly, of the investigations and the recovery attempts, as well as the parallel Sentinel-1 mission level actions and way forward is available here.
Copernicus Sentinel-1A remains fully operational. Strong efforts have been deployed to launch Sentinel-1C as early as possible, the current plans target a launch in the second quarter of 2023. The successful VEGA-C maiden flight on 13 July 2022 marks a major milestone towards the launch of Sentinel-1C.
The Sentinel-1B satellite remains under control, all systems except the power affected unit, which prevents the radar from being switched on, continue to function nominally. Regular orbit control manoeuvres are routinely performed. The preparation of the Sentinel-1B disposal phase has started. It requires detailed analyses in the domains of satellite engineering, mission analysis and flight operations. This preparatory phase is planned to last until the end March 2023, indicatively. The execution of the Sentinel-1B disposal cannot take place in parallel to the Sentinel-1A operations and to the Sentinel-1C related activities (launch preparation, launch execution and Commissioning). The start of the Sentinel-1B disposal is therefore planned to take place after the Sentinel-1C In-Orbit Commissioning Review (IOCR), indicatively during the third quarter of 2023. The de-orbiting activities will last several months (current estimate in the order of 9 months).
The de-orbiting of Sentinel-1B is an example of ESA’s and EU’s commitments to clean and responsible space. It will be performed according to the safety and clean space environment requirements in place for ESA projects at the time of design of Sentinel-1A and Sentinel-1B (re-entry in the atmosphere within maximum 25 years).