The ground segment is composed of the Core Ground Segment, the Collaborative Ground Segment and the Copernicus contributing missions' ground segments.

The core ground segment monitors and controls the Sentinel spacecraft, ensures the measurement data acquisition, processing, archiving and dissemination to the final users. In addition, it is responsible for performing conflict-free mission planning according to a pre-defined operational scenario, and it ensures the quality of data products and performance of the space-borne sensors by continuous monitoring, calibration and validation activities, guaranteeing the overall performance of the mission.

Figure 1: Copernicus Ground Segment Architecture

The Copernicus ground segment is complemented by the Sentinel Collaborative Ground Segment, which was introduced with the aim of exploiting the Sentinel missions further. This entails additional elements for specialised solutions in different technological areas such as data acquisition, complementary production and dissemination, innovative tools and applications, and complementary support to calibration and validation activities.

The Copernicus contributing mission ground segments, with their own specific control functions, data reception, data processing, data dissemination and data archiving facilities, deliver essential data complementing the Sentinel missions.