Sentinel1B

Sentinel-1B was a radar imaging satellite, part of the European Space Agency's Copernicus program. It was launched on April 25, 2016, joining its twin satellite, Sentinel-1A, in orbit. Together, Sentinel-1A and Sentinel-1B formed a constellation designed to provide continuous, all-weather, day-and-night monitoring of the Earth's surface.

The primary instrument aboard Sentinel-1B was a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) operating in C-band. This advanced radar system allowed the satellite to acquire imagery regardless of cloud cover or sunlight conditions. Sentinel-1B collected data in various imaging modes, including Interferometric Wide Swath (IW), Extra-Wide Swath (EW), and Stripmap (SM), each offering different spatial resolutions and coverage areas.

The data from Sentinel-1B had a wide range of applications. It was crucial for monitoring sea ice, tracking oil spills, mapping land deformation due to earthquakes or volcanic activity, and observing changes in forests and agricultural land. It played a significant role in disaster management, providing timely information for emergency response efforts.

Sentinel-1B ceased operations in December 2021 due to a failure in its power generating module. While its operational life was shorter than anticipated, it provided valuable data and contributed significantly to Earth observation science and services during its mission. The Sentinel-1 program continues with Sentinel-1A and the upcoming Sentinel-1C and Sentinel-1D missions.