As of December 2021, the satellite was unable to send data due to a malfunction
The European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission have announced the end of the Earth observation satellite mission Copernicus Sentinel-1B. The satellite had experienced a technical anomaly in December 2021, resulting in its inability to send radar data anymore. Despite the efforts of the engineers to solve the problem, this became impossible, as a result of which the end of his mission was now officially announced.
On the other hand, the Copernicus Sentinel-1A twin satellite remains fully operational, while Sentinel-1C is planned to be launched as soon as possible. In collaboration with Arianespace, it is planned to launch with the new European Vega-C rocket within the second quarter of 2023.
The Deputy Director of the European Space Commission (Directorate General for Defense Industry and Space) Paraskevi Papantoniou stated that “the definitive unavailability of the Sentinel-1B satellite is a significant loss for the European Union’s space program and the European Commission is committed to limiting its impact. In this context, we managed to bring the launch of Sentinel-1C earlier.”
Sentinel-1A, which was launched in April 2014, was the first satellite of Copernicus, the part of the European space program that focuses on observing the Earth and the environment. The European Union leads the Copernicus programme, while ESA develops and launches the Sentinel satellites. Sentinel-1B was launched in April 2016 and was placed into orbit 180 degrees from 1A.
With their sophisticated radar technology, they covered the entire surface of the Earth day and night, regardless of weather conditions. Among other things, the Sentinels enable a number of Copernicus services and applications, such as recording Arctic sea ice, monitoring icebergs, mapping forests, seas and glaciers, detecting oil spills in the seas, monitoring illegal fishing, monitoring the deformation of the Earth due to strong earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, supporting the provision of humanitarian aid in times of crisis, etc.
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