NASA is on the cusp of launching a vital Earth satellite, Sentinel-6B, which will track sea levels across over 90% of the planet's oceans. The mission, a collaboration between NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA), has been years in the making.
The rocket carrying Sentinel-6B, launched atop a SpaceX Falcon 9, is set to blast off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 12:21 am EST on Monday, November 17. Once airborne, the satellite will embark on a 57-minute sequence of events that culminate in its separation from the rocket.
Upon reaching orbit, Sentinel-6B will begin its real work, tracking sea levels with unprecedented precision. The satellite's data will be used to refine atmospheric models supporting the safe re-entry of NASA's Artemis astronauts, protect coastal infrastructure, and improve public safety through storm forecasting and commercial activities such as shipping.
The mission marks a significant milestone in the continuation of a 30-year-plus record of sea-level measurements. Sentinel-6B will orbit the Earth every 112 minutes at an altitude of 4.5 miles (7.2 kilometers) per second, providing crucial data to help build an accurate picture of local and global sea surface heights.
As the satellite assumes its role as primary sea level measurer, researchers plan to use measurements from its twin, Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, for different purposes, including mapping seafloor features.
The launch is expected to be broadcast live on NASA's website, with streaming video and photos available shortly after liftoff. Follow-up coverage will be available on the agency's blog, plus.nasa.gov/scheduled-events, and social media channels.
Sentinel-6B is part of a U.S.-European mission that showcases the collaborative efforts between NASA and the ESA in the field of Earth observation. The Copernicus Sentinel-6/Jason-CS (Continuity of Service) mission has received funding support from the European Commission, technical expertise from France's space agency CNES, and contributions from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The satellite is equipped with three science instruments built by a division of Caltech in Pasadena, including the Advanced Microwave Radiometer, Global Navigation Satellite System – Radio Occultation, and Laser Retroreflector Array. NASA will provide launch services, ground systems supporting operation of the NASA science instruments, and support for U.S. members of the international Ocean Surface Topography and Sentinel-6 science teams.
As the world's oceans continue to rise due to climate change, missions like Sentinel-6B play a critical role in monitoring sea levels and predicting weather patterns. The success of this mission will have far-reaching implications for public safety, coastal infrastructure protection, and our understanding of the Earth's systems.
The rocket carrying Sentinel-6B, launched atop a SpaceX Falcon 9, is set to blast off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 12:21 am EST on Monday, November 17. Once airborne, the satellite will embark on a 57-minute sequence of events that culminate in its separation from the rocket.
Upon reaching orbit, Sentinel-6B will begin its real work, tracking sea levels with unprecedented precision. The satellite's data will be used to refine atmospheric models supporting the safe re-entry of NASA's Artemis astronauts, protect coastal infrastructure, and improve public safety through storm forecasting and commercial activities such as shipping.
The mission marks a significant milestone in the continuation of a 30-year-plus record of sea-level measurements. Sentinel-6B will orbit the Earth every 112 minutes at an altitude of 4.5 miles (7.2 kilometers) per second, providing crucial data to help build an accurate picture of local and global sea surface heights.
As the satellite assumes its role as primary sea level measurer, researchers plan to use measurements from its twin, Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, for different purposes, including mapping seafloor features.
The launch is expected to be broadcast live on NASA's website, with streaming video and photos available shortly after liftoff. Follow-up coverage will be available on the agency's blog, plus.nasa.gov/scheduled-events, and social media channels.
Sentinel-6B is part of a U.S.-European mission that showcases the collaborative efforts between NASA and the ESA in the field of Earth observation. The Copernicus Sentinel-6/Jason-CS (Continuity of Service) mission has received funding support from the European Commission, technical expertise from France's space agency CNES, and contributions from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The satellite is equipped with three science instruments built by a division of Caltech in Pasadena, including the Advanced Microwave Radiometer, Global Navigation Satellite System – Radio Occultation, and Laser Retroreflector Array. NASA will provide launch services, ground systems supporting operation of the NASA science instruments, and support for U.S. members of the international Ocean Surface Topography and Sentinel-6 science teams.
As the world's oceans continue to rise due to climate change, missions like Sentinel-6B play a critical role in monitoring sea levels and predicting weather patterns. The success of this mission will have far-reaching implications for public safety, coastal infrastructure protection, and our understanding of the Earth's systems.
at least it means we'll have better storms prediction which would save so many lives and properties 
also i hope they get accurate data for coastal infrastructure protection cuz its getting more intense due to climate change 
anyway i'm super hyped for this launch can't wait to watch it live on nasa's website 
. It's crazy to think about how much data that's gonna generate, and what kind of insights scientists are gonna be able to get out of it 
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. I mean, who even thought up the idea for a satellite that tracks sea levels? It's not like we're just sitting around twiddling our thumbs waiting for the Earth to rise up and flood us 
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. And who knows what kind of discoveries we'll be making about the oceans and climate change? It's gonna be wild 
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nasa just launched sentinel 6b 
and provide data that's gonna help us understand climate change better 
when we work together, we can achieve so much more 
especially when it comes to protecting our planet and keeping us safe from natural disasters like hurricanes and tsunamis 
and i know that the data it produces is gonna be used to make a real difference in people's lives 
whether it's helping scientists improve their models, protecting coastal infrastructure, or keeping us safe from storms 
whatever it is, i just know that sentinel 6b is gonna do great things 
our coastlines are getting more exposed every year, flooding is becoming more frequent... it's crazy how much our planet can change in such a short time. 
i'm actually kinda excited about this mission tho, hope they get some accurate data out of it 
i mean, sentinels-6b is a game changer for tracking sea levels but it's also like, we gotta make sure we're not just gathering data, we're using it to actually do something with it 
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. like, what other way is there to keep an eye on our oceans as they keep risin' 
? this Sentinel-6B thing is like a big deal for predictin storms and protectin coastal cities. i mean its not just about the weather tho, its also about us understandin more about our earths systems 
. and it makes me wonder how many other satelites are out there doin their thang... 
? Don't get me wrong, it's cool that NASA and ESA are working together on this, but I'm just not convinced it's necessary.
. Like, what's changed now? Is the new one going to make a huge difference in our understanding of sea levels or something? It feels like more funding is being pumped into this project and less into actual research and development 
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Sentinel-6B is totes launching 2day on Nov 17 @ midnight 
! Its gonna track sea levels @ over 90% of oceans & help w/ storm forecasting & coast protection 
. NASA & ESA r workin together on dis mission & its a big deal cuz it shows global collab 
. I'm hyped! The launch will b livestreamed on NASA's website & they'll have all deets on their blog & socials 