Europe has successfully launched its latest Earth observation satellite.
ADVERTISEMENTEurope has successfully launched its latest Earth observation satellite. The Sentinel-2B lifted off atop a Vega rocket from Europe’s space port in French Guiana.
It is part of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) multi-billion euro Copernicus programme to provide images of our planet.
Congrats to J. Aschbacher & the #ESA team on #Sentinel2Go mission to advance our knowledge of Earth and its vegetation which benefits many
— Thomas Zurbuchen (@Dr_ThomasZ) March 7, 2017
With its twin, Sentinel-2A which is already in place, the two satellites will orbit 786 km above Earth on opposite sides of the globe.
Together, they will be able to cover all of Earth’s land surfaces, large islands, inland and coastal waterways every five days, providing more up-to-date images and at higher resolution than have been available.
The Copernicus project is described by the European Space Agency as the most ambitious Earth observation program to date. The European Union and the ESA have committed funding of more than 8 billion euros to it until 2020.
Success ! AE Team spirit from Washington Satellite
— Stéphane Israël (@arianespaceceo) March 7, 2017ESA_EO</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/EU_Commission">EU_CommissionAvio_Group</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AirbusDS">AirbusDSpic.twitter.com/PBGyU4UUFp
Watch a replay of the #Sentinel2 launch – liftoff occurred at 02:49 CET#Sentinel2Gohttps://t.co/1Pf4OZ9d7G
— ESA (@esa) March 7, 2017