SpaceX successfully launched the Sentinel-6B satellite early on Monday, marking a significant step in a joint NASA-European effort to monitor long-term changes in sea levels. This mission is part of a billion-dollar initiative aimed at understanding climate change, which is increasingly affecting coastal regions worldwide. The launch took place from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 12:21 a.m. EST.
Sentinel-6B follows the first satellite in this series, Sentinel-6A, which was launched in November 2020 in honor of NASA climate researcher Michael Freilich. Both satellites are equipped with advanced cloud-penetrating radar, allowing them to measure sea levels with an accuracy of approximately one inch. This technology works by timing the return of radar beams from the ocean’s surface, located 830 miles below.
Importance of Sea Level Monitoring
The data collected by the Sentinel-6 satellites plays a crucial role in understanding the impacts of climate change. Over the past three decades, previous missions have provided an uninterrupted stream of information indicating that global sea levels are gradually rising, a phenomenon largely attributed to human activities and industrial emissions.
Interestingly, during the pre-launch briefing for Sentinel-6B, Karen St. Germain, director of NASA’s Earth Science Division, emphasized the practical applications of the satellite’s data without directly mentioning climate change. “Sentinel-6B is the latest in a line of missions keeping an uninterrupted watch over our planet’s sea surface height,” she stated, highlighting its relevance for navigation, flood predictions, and coastal management.
The Sentinel-6B satellite will contribute to a multi-decade dataset that is essential for urban planning and protecting commercial interests, according to the information provided by NASA. This change in messaging reflects a broader trend seen during the previous administration, which aimed to scale back certain climate research discussions.
Technical Details and Future Prospects
The Falcon 9 rocket that carried the Sentinel-6B satellite successfully completed its launch sequence, including a return landing at the California site after stage separation. The upper stage of the rocket executed two engine firings before deploying the 2,600-pound satellite into orbit. This satellite shares the same orbit as its predecessor, allowing it to cover up to 90 percent of the world’s oceans during its 112-minute orbital cycle.
Beyond monitoring sea levels, Sentinel-6B will also gather data on temperature and humidity in both the lower atmosphere and the stratosphere, using instruments that evaluate atmospheric conditions affecting signals from navigation satellites. Despite the emphasis on practical applications, the underlying mission remains focused on tracking Earth’s changing sea levels.
Craig Donlon, a project scientist with the European Space Agency, previously highlighted the significance of these missions. He noted that the rapid industrialization and combustion of carbon resources have disrupted a natural balance, resulting in observable warming trends and rising sea levels. “The greatest indicator of this Earth system imbalance is sea level rise,” he remarked.
The collaborative effort behind the Sentinel-6 satellites involves NAVOCEAN, the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NASA’s investment in the two Sentinel-6 satellites amounts to approximately $500 million, with a similar contribution from European partners.
As the world continues to grapple with the implications of climate change, the successful launch of Sentinel-6B underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring efforts that provide vital data for understanding and addressing these challenges.
