While Sentinel-1A is clearly demonstrating its versatility for monitoring many aspects of Earth, it has already been used for practical purposes. One of the satellite’s first images was crucial in helping Namibian authorities decide how to respond to a serious flood.

In recent years, floods in Namibia have affected hundreds of thousands of people, destroying homes and washing away vital crops and livestock.

In this region, floods also bring further suffering in the form of disease, such as malaria and cholera.

Monitoring these devastating floods is normally hampered by the weather because sensors on aircraft cannot see through the cloud and are limited to relatively small areas. Trying to access remote flood-stricken areas on the ground is also impractical.

The country was subjected to another event this April, shortly after the Sentinel-1A launch.