Overview
- ESA confirmed nominal launch, correct separation about 34 minutes after liftoff, and insertion into a sun‑synchronous orbit near 693 km with first contact established.
- The mission has entered the Launch and Early Orbit Phase for initial deployments and health checks, to be followed by roughly 10 days of orbit maneuvers and seven 12‑day calibration cycles.
- Test images are expected within weeks for instrument validation, with routine data release planned after calibration and an operational handover targeted around April.
- Once operational, Sentinel‑1D will work with Sentinel‑1C to restore Copernicus radar coverage to roughly a six‑day global revisit, sustaining open data services for climate, disaster response and maritime monitoring.
- The C‑band radar provides all‑weather, day‑night imaging and millimetre‑scale ground‑motion measurements, and an AIS receiver paired with radar enhances detection of oil spills and vessels that switch off transponders, while Ariane 6’s nominal performance underscores Europe’s independent access to space.