NASA's Latest Satellite Mission to Monitor Rising Oceans
As the US and European space agencies launch a new satellite, Sentinel-6B, on November 17th, they are continuing a decades-long record of sea surface height measurements that will help improve coastal planning, protect critical infrastructure, and advance weather forecasts. The mission is part of the Copernicus Sentinel-6/Jason-CS program, which aims to provide essential information about Earth's ocean.
The satellite will deliver data on about 90% of the world's oceans, providing crucial insights into sea level rise and its effects on coastal communities. This information will be vital for city planners, local governments, and industries that need accurate predictions to make informed decisions. The data collected by Sentinel-6B will also help improve hurricane forecasts, which are critical for disaster preparedness and response.
The satellite's radar altimeter will measure sea levels for nearly all of Earth's oceans, providing information on large-scale currents that can aid in commercial and naval navigation, search and rescue, and the tracking of debris and pollutants from disasters at sea. The observations will also help refine NASA's atmospheric forecast models, which are used to plan safer reentry of astronauts returning from space missions.
The mission is not only crucial for understanding Earth's oceans but also has implications for future lunar exploration missions. Changes in Earth's ocean can have measurable effects on the Moon, and data from Sentinel-6B can help improve our understanding of this relationship.
The international collaboration behind the mission has enabled the pooling of capabilities, resources, and expertise. The partnership between NASA, ESA, EUMETSAT, CNES, and NOAA has delivered cost-effective solutions that have made precise, high-impact data available to industry and government agencies alike.
With Sentinel-6B, the US and European space agencies are taking a significant step towards advancing our understanding of Earth's oceans and its effects on coastal communities. The mission's data will be essential for improving weather forecasts, protecting critical infrastructure, and supporting national security efforts.
As the US and European space agencies launch a new satellite, Sentinel-6B, on November 17th, they are continuing a decades-long record of sea surface height measurements that will help improve coastal planning, protect critical infrastructure, and advance weather forecasts. The mission is part of the Copernicus Sentinel-6/Jason-CS program, which aims to provide essential information about Earth's ocean.
The satellite will deliver data on about 90% of the world's oceans, providing crucial insights into sea level rise and its effects on coastal communities. This information will be vital for city planners, local governments, and industries that need accurate predictions to make informed decisions. The data collected by Sentinel-6B will also help improve hurricane forecasts, which are critical for disaster preparedness and response.
The satellite's radar altimeter will measure sea levels for nearly all of Earth's oceans, providing information on large-scale currents that can aid in commercial and naval navigation, search and rescue, and the tracking of debris and pollutants from disasters at sea. The observations will also help refine NASA's atmospheric forecast models, which are used to plan safer reentry of astronauts returning from space missions.
The mission is not only crucial for understanding Earth's oceans but also has implications for future lunar exploration missions. Changes in Earth's ocean can have measurable effects on the Moon, and data from Sentinel-6B can help improve our understanding of this relationship.
The international collaboration behind the mission has enabled the pooling of capabilities, resources, and expertise. The partnership between NASA, ESA, EUMETSAT, CNES, and NOAA has delivered cost-effective solutions that have made precise, high-impact data available to industry and government agencies alike.
With Sentinel-6B, the US and European space agencies are taking a significant step towards advancing our understanding of Earth's oceans and its effects on coastal communities. The mission's data will be essential for improving weather forecasts, protecting critical infrastructure, and supporting national security efforts.