NASA is on track to launch Sentinel-6B, a satellite designed to track sea levels across over 90% of the Earth's ocean. The mission is a joint effort between NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) with a planned launch at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
The satellite, measuring 19.1 feet long and 7.74 feet high, will ride atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket before breaking free into space. Once in orbit, Sentinel-6B will begin tracking sea levels every 112 minutes at an altitude of 4.5 miles above the Earth's surface.
The satellite is critical to providing accurate measurements of sea level, which will help improve public safety and city planning while protecting coastal infrastructure such as power plants and defense interests. NASA also plans to use the data to refine atmospheric models that support the safe re-entry of Artemis astronauts.
On launch day, viewers can expect a 20-second window with the rocket lifted off at 12:21 a.m. EST. The rocket will separate into stages, followed by the satellite's solar panels deploying roughly seven minutes after separation.
NASA is providing live coverage on its website, including links to streaming and blog updates, starting from 11 p.m. EST on November 16. For more information on NASA's launch schedule, visit plus.nasa.gov/scheduled-events.
Sentinel-6B marks the first international involvement in Copernicus, the European Union's Earth Observation Programme. The mission is a collaboration between NASA, ESA, EUMETSAT, and NOAA with funding support from the European Commission and technical expertise provided by France's space agency CNES.
The satellite will play a crucial role in building an accurate picture of sea surface heights to support storm forecasting, secure coastal infrastructure, and optimize commercial activities such as shipping.
The satellite, measuring 19.1 feet long and 7.74 feet high, will ride atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket before breaking free into space. Once in orbit, Sentinel-6B will begin tracking sea levels every 112 minutes at an altitude of 4.5 miles above the Earth's surface.
The satellite is critical to providing accurate measurements of sea level, which will help improve public safety and city planning while protecting coastal infrastructure such as power plants and defense interests. NASA also plans to use the data to refine atmospheric models that support the safe re-entry of Artemis astronauts.
On launch day, viewers can expect a 20-second window with the rocket lifted off at 12:21 a.m. EST. The rocket will separate into stages, followed by the satellite's solar panels deploying roughly seven minutes after separation.
NASA is providing live coverage on its website, including links to streaming and blog updates, starting from 11 p.m. EST on November 16. For more information on NASA's launch schedule, visit plus.nasa.gov/scheduled-events.
Sentinel-6B marks the first international involvement in Copernicus, the European Union's Earth Observation Programme. The mission is a collaboration between NASA, ESA, EUMETSAT, and NOAA with funding support from the European Commission and technical expertise provided by France's space agency CNES.
The satellite will play a crucial role in building an accurate picture of sea surface heights to support storm forecasting, secure coastal infrastructure, and optimize commercial activities such as shipping.
I'm stoked about this launch, it's like the ultimate tech demo. Sentinel-6B is gonna help us better understand our oceans & climate, which is super important for coastal cities & communities 
. Having a satellite track sea levels at such high accuracy is insane - we're talking 4.5 miles above the surface every 112 minutes 
. It's like having an extra set of eyes on our oceans. I hope they can get some sick pics of storms too, that'd be so cool 
. Plus, it's awesome that NASA & ESA are working together on this mission - international collaboration is the way forward! 
, I'm SOOOO hyped about this NASA launch!!! 
Sentinel-6B is like, the ultimate satellite for tracking sea levels, and it's not just about measuring water levels, it's also gonna help us save lives by predicting storms & protecting coastal cities 
. The fact that NASA & ESA are teaming up on this mission is like, the ultimate collab 
! And, did you know that this satellite will also help us improve our understanding of the atmosphere, which is gonna be crucial for the Artemis astronauts' re-entry? 
Mind blown! 
November 16 can't come soon enough 
. I'll be glued to my screen, watching all the live updates & streaming 
It's amazing to think that we'll be getting accurate measurements of sea level, which will supercharge public safety and city planning. Just imagine being able to predict hurricanes or storms with more precision - it could save so many lives! 
. But let's be real, we already knew our oceans were a mess... 90% of the Earth's ocean? That's like, half of everything 
. And can we talk about how awesome it is that France is providing technical expertise? Like, let's not forget our friends across the pond 
.