Sentinel3

Sentinel-3 is a European Space Agency mission within the Copernicus Programme designed to provide high-precision observations of the ocean, land, and atmosphere. It supports a range of services for environmental monitoring, weather forecasting, and climate research by delivering measurements related to sea surface height, sea and land surface temperature, and ocean and land color. The core assets are Sentinel-3A (S3A) and Sentinel-3B (S3B), launched in 2016 and 2018 respectively, and operating in near-polar, sun-synchronous orbits at an altitude of about 814 kilometers to achieve near-daily global coverage.

The spacecraft carry a suite of instruments to acquire complementary data. The Ocean and Land Colour Instrument (OLCI) measures ocean color and land color with a wide swath and multiple spectral bands. The Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer (SLSTR) provides observations of sea surface temperature and land surface temperature, including cloud detection capabilities. The Sea and Land Surface Height measured by the SRAL radar altimeter supplies sea surface height, wave height, and wind information. Supporting systems for precise orbit determination, such as DORIS and GNSS receivers, enable accurate positioning and calibration of the measurements.

Data from Sentinel-3 are produced in multiple levels and distributed openly to users through the Copernicus programme, with near-real-time products supporting maritime safety, weather prediction, and environmental monitoring. The mission is operated by ESA with operational input from EUMETSAT, and the two satellites together provide sustained, long-term monitoring to support oceanography, land monitoring, and climate research.