The satellite Sentinel-1Bpart of the program Copernicus for Earth observation, has been officially deactivated the September 12, 2024. After a series of maneuvers starting in February 2023, the satellite was moved to a lower orbit, from 703 to 580 kilometers from Earth, and his reentry into the atmosphere is expected within the next few years 25 years. His successor, Sentinel-1Cwill be launched in November 2024.
The legacy of Sentinel-1B
Launched in April 2016, Sentinel-1B worked in tandem with Sentinel-1A for over 5 years, monitoring ice, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and offering support in the event of natural disasters. However, a failure occurred on December 23, 2021 rendered the satellite inoperative, and after numerous repair attempts, the mission was terminated on August 3, 2022.
The return of Sentinel-1B was prepared with great care, following the commitment of theESA and the European Union to reduce the space debris. Before the final shutdown, as much energy as possible was removed to avoid accidental breakups in orbit.
The future of Sentinel-1
With Sentinel-1A still operational, the launch of Sentinel-1C at the end of 2024 on a rocket Vega-C will guarantee the continuity of the observations and services offered by the Sentinel satellites. Also Sentinel-1D will follow over the next few years, ensuring that the mission continues for the next decade until the new generation of Sentinel-1 satellites.
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