The Copernicus Sentinel-1D satellite joined the Sentinel-1 mission in orbit. Its launch took place Nov. 4, 2025, onboard an Ariane 6 launcher from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
The Sentinel-1 mission delivers high-resolution radar images of Earth’s surface, performing in all weathers, day-and-night. This service is used by disaster response teams, environmental agencies, maritime authorities and climate scientists, who depend on frequent updates of critical data.
Sentinel-1D will work in tandem with Sentinel-1C, flying in the same orbit but 180 degrees apart to optimize global coverage and data delivery. Both satellites have a C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) instrument on board, which captures high-resolution imagery of Earth’s surface. They are also equipped with Automatic Identification System (AIS) instruments to improve detection and tracking of ships. When Sentinel-1D is fully operational, it will enable more frequent AIS observations, including data on vessel identity, location and direction of passage, enabling precise tracking.
Image Credit: ESA – S. Corvaja
