3, 2, 1… Liftoff! 🚀

On 4 November at 22:02 CET, Copernicus Sentinel-1D satellite launched from Europe’s Spaceport aboard an Ariane-6 rocket.

Sentinel-1D is the newest addition to the Sentinel-1 radar satellite family. Together, the Sentinel-1 satellites can image Earth day and night, in any weather. That means when floods or earthquakes strike, Sentinel-1 can monitor the aftermath—even in darkness—giving rescuers vital data to help people on the ground. Like its sibling Sentinel-1C, Sentinel-1D also carries an Automatic Identification System (AIS), allowing it to precisely track ships at sea.

Now in orbit, the satellite is in the safe hands of ESA Mission Control. Over the coming days, teams will gradually activate its systems, check their performance, and guide it into its final orbit.