Airbus Space Systems, part of Airbus Defence & Space, has announced the successful launch of the Sentinel-6B climate change data collection satellite. The spacecraft was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base, in the US state of California, and forms part of the EU’s Copernicus Programme, which is focused on the environment.

Sentinel-6B is identical to Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, which was launched in November 2020. The two satellites will collect high-precision data on the height of the sea surface, allowing them to monitor increasing sea levels. Having two satellites do this ensures that the most accurate data is collected. The data is collected by sending radar pulses down to the sea surface, which are then reflected back to receivers on the satellites. The two satellites will also monitor ocean circulation and record vertical temperature and humidity profiles through the atmosphere.

“The launch of this satellite will play a crucial role in advancing ongoing research while building upon the significant progress already achieved,” highlighted Airbus Space Systems head Alain Fauré. “Accurate sea-level measurements are invaluable data to help protect coastal communities and guide global climate action.”

The two satellites will work together to collect sea level data until at least 2030. Sentinel-6B, which has a mass of about 1.3 t, is now in a 1 336-km-high Sun-synchronous orbit, which has an inclination of 66°. This means that it will pass over locations on the Earth’s surface at different times of the day and night. In turn, this will allow it to measure changes that can occur over 24 hours, such as the tides.

Airbus is the prime contractor for Sentinel-6B. This is one of the more than 20 climate-monitoring projects for which Airbus has served as the prime contractor.

Although part of an EU programme, Sentinel-6B was developed by an international alliance comprising the European Space Agency (which is not part of the EU), the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (which is also not part of the EU) and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with the support of the French space agency, CNES.