SpaceX is set to launch the Sentinel-6B satellite from California early Monday morning, November 17, and you can catch it live. The launch, planned for 12:21 a.m. EDT, will take place at Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Sentinel-6B is part of the European Union’s Copernicus Earth-observing program. It will monitor sea surface heights worldwide, building on the work of its predecessor, Sentinel-6 Michael Frelich, which blasted off in November 2020. This mission is crucial as monitoring sea-level rise has become a top global priority. According to the European Space Agency (ESA), the world’s oceans have risen nearly 10 cm (about 4 inches) in the past 25 years.
The satellite uses a radar altimeter developed by ESA to gather data. It also includes a microwave radiometer from NASA to measure atmospheric water content, enhancing the analysis of sea levels. This combination aims to provide more accurate readings, essential for understanding how climate change affects our oceans.
During its first year, Sentinel-6B will work alongside Sentinel-6 Michael Frelich, increasing the accuracy of the data collected through cross-calibration. This collaboration involves multiple organizations, including ESA, NASA, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
If all goes according to plan, Sentinel-6B will separate from the Falcon 9 rocket about 57 minutes after launch. The satellite, weighing in at 3,175 pounds (1,440 kilograms), aims to reach its operational orbit about 830 miles (1,336 kilometers) above Earth. Meanwhile, the Falcon 9’s first stage will return to Vandenberg for landing roughly nine minutes after liftoff.
Recent discussions on social media highlight the excitement around this mission. Users are sharing their anticipation for real-time data on sea-level changes, particularly in light of recent reports linking rising sea levels to more frequent extreme weather events. This latest launch further solidifies the Sentinel missions as vital tools in tracking environmental changes and contributing to climate science.
For more details about this launch, you can visit the official SpaceX page.
