Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich

Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich
Illustration of the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich spacecraft in orbit above Earth with its deployable solar panels extended
NamesSentinel-6A
Jason-CS A
Mission typeOceanography mission
OperatorEUMETSAT / NASA
COSPAR ID2020-086A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.46984
Websitewww.eumetsat.int/sentinel-6
Mission duration5.5 years (planned)
4 years and 6 days (in progress)
Spacecraft properties
BusSentinel-6
ManufacturerAirbus Defence and Space
Launch mass1,192 kg (2,628 lb)
Dimensions5.13 x 4.17 x 2.34 metres
Power891 watts
Start of mission
Launch date21 November 2020,
17:17:08 UTC
RocketFalcon 9 Block 5
Launch siteVandenberg, SLC-4E
ContractorSpaceX
Entered service21 June 2021 [1]
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Altitude1,336 km (830 mi)
Inclination66.0°
Repeat interval10 days
Instruments
  • Radar altimeter
  • Advanced Microwave Radiometer (AMR-C)
  • GNSS Precise Orbit Determination (POD) Receiver
  • DORIS Receiver
  • Laser Reflector Array (LRA)
  • Radio-occultation instrument

Logo of the Sentinel-6 programme
← Jason-3
Sentinel-6B (2025) →

The Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich (S6MF) or Sentinel-6A is a radar altimeter satellite developed in partnership between several European and American organizations. It is part of the Jason satellite series and is named after Michael Freilich. S6MF includes synthetic-aperture radar altimetry techniques to improve ocean topography measurements, in addition to rivers and lakes.[2] The spacecraft entered service in mid 2021 and is expected to operate for 5.5 years.

  1. ^ "New sea-level monitoring satellite goes live". ESA. 21 June 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  2. ^ Donlon, Craig J.; Cullen, Robert; Giulicchi, Luisella; Vuilleumier, Pierrik; Francis, C. Richard; Kuschnerus, Mieke; Simpson, William; Bouridah, Abderrazak; Caleno, Mauro; Bertoni, Roberta; Rancaño, Jesus (1 June 2021). "The Copernicus Sentinel-6 mission: Enhanced continuity of satellite sea level measurements from space". Remote Sensing of Environment. 258: 112395. Bibcode:2021RSEnv.258k2395D. doi:10.1016/j.rse.2021.112395. ISSN 0034-4257. S2CID 233566650.