Sentinel-2A
{{Short description|European optical imaging satellite}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = Sentinel-2A
| image = Sentinel 2-IMG 5873-white (crop).jpg
| image_caption = Model of a Sentinel 2 satellite
| insignia =
| mission_type = Earth observation
| operator = ESA
| website = {{url|http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-2|Sentinel-2 (ESA)}}
| COSPAR_ID = 2015-028A
| SATCAT = 40697
| mission_duration = Planned: 7 years{{cite web |url=http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/S2-Data_Sheet.pdf |title=Sentinel-2: The Operational Compernicus Optical High Resolution Land Mission |publisher=European Space Agency |date=2013 |access-date=23 June 2015}}
Elapsed: {{time interval|23 June 2015 01:51:58|show=ymd|sep=,}}
| spacecraft_bus =
| spacecraft_type = Sentinel-2
| manufacturer = Airbus Defence and Space
| dry_mass = {{convert|1017|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
| launch_mass = {{convert|1140|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
| dimensions = {{convert|3.4|x|1.8|x|2.35|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| power = 1700 watts
| launch_date = {{start-date|23 June 2015, 01:51:58}} UTC{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-2/Second_Copernicus_environmental_satellite_safely_in_orbit |title=Second Copernicus environmental satellite safely in orbit |publisher=European Space Agency |date=23 June 2015 |access-date=24 June 2015}}
| launch_contractor = Arianespace
| disposal_type =
| deactivated =
| last_contact =
| decay_date =
| orbit_reference = Geocentric
| orbit_regime = Low Earth
| orbit_semimajor = {{convert|7167.10|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| orbit_eccentricity = 0.000127
| orbit_periapsis = {{convert|788.06|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| orbit_apoapsis = {{convert|789.87|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| orbit_inclination = 98.5623°
| orbit_period = 100.65 minutes
| orbit_epoch = 9 March 2017, 21:05:23 UTC{{cite web |url=http://heavens-above.com/orbit.aspx?satid=40697 |title=Sentinel 2A - Orbit |publisher=Heavens-Above |date=9 March 2017 |access-date=9 March 2017}}
| apsis = gee
| instruments = Multi-Spectral Imager (MSI)
| trans_band = S band (TT&C support)
X band and optical laser through EDRS (data acquisition)
| trans_bandwidth = 64 kbit/s upload (S band)
128 kbit/s - 2 Mbit/s down (S band)
520 Mbit/s down (X band/Optical)
| programme = Sentinel-2
| next_mission = Sentinel-2B
}}
Sentinel-2A is a European optical imaging satellite launched in 2015. It is the first Sentinel-2 satellite launched as part of the European Space Agency's Copernicus Programme. The satellite carries a wide swath high-resolution multispectral imager with 13 spectral bands. Its observations support services such as forest monitoring, land cover change-detection, natural disaster management and water quality monitoring.{{cite news |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/sentinel-2a-satellite-blasts-off-provide-new-improved-view-earth-1507541 |title=Sentinel-2A: Satellite blasts off to provide new, improved view of Earth |work=International Business Times |first=Adam |last=Justice |date=23 June 2015 |access-date=24 June 2015}}
On 7 March 2017 the Sentinel-2A was joined in orbit by its sister satellite, Sentinel-2B.
Mission history
=Launch=
Sentinel 2A was launched by the Vega VV05 rocket on 23 June 2015 at 01:52 UTC. The satellite separated from the upper stage 54 min 43 s after liftoff.{{cite news|title=Vega successfully launches Sentinel-2A mission|author=Chris Bergin |date=June 22, 2015|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/06/vega-fifth-sentinel-2a/|website=nasaspaceflight.com|access-date=March 19, 2023}}
=Orbital operation=
The satellite captured its first image 100 hours after launch, covering a {{Convert|290|km|mi|abbr=on}} wide swath from Sweden through Central Europe to Algeria.{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-2/Sentinel-2_delivers_first_images |title=Sentinel-2 delivers first images |publisher=European Space Agency |date=29 June 2015 |access-date=1 February 2017}}{{cite conference |url=http://www.snsb.se/Global/Fj%C3%A4rranalysanv%C3%A4ndare/Fj%C3%A4rranalysdagarna%202015/RUM%20461/3%20Sentinel-2_Stockholm_FINAL.pdf |title=A short success story of Sentinel-2A |conference=Meeting of the Earth Observation Programme Board. 22–23 September 2015. ESRIN, Frascati, Italy. |first=Bianca |last=Hoersch |date=2015 |access-date=1 February 2017}}{{rp|8}} Commissioning occurred in October 2015.{{rp|8}}
Between 20 and 23 January 2017 the spacecraft suffered a mission planning anomaly which resulted in loss of data from its instrument, the Multi-Spectral Imager.{{cite web |url=https://sentinel.esa.int/web/sentinel/missions/sentinel-2/news/-/article/loss-of-sentinel-2a-acquisition-between-20-and-23-january-2017 |title=Loss of Sentinel-2A acquisitions between 20 and 23 January 2017 |publisher=European Space Agency |date=23 January 2017 |access-date=1 February 2017}}
File:Orbit path - Sentinel 2A descending - day.png|Sentinel 2A's descending orbital path
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
- [https://sentinel.esa.int/web/sentinel/missions/sentinel-2 Sentinel-2 programme] at ESA's Sentinel Online
- [http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-2 Sentinel-2 programme] at ESA.int
- [https://uphere.space/satellites/40697 Real-time orbital tracking] - [https://uphere.space uphere.space]
{{Copernicus programme}}
{{European Space Agency}}
{{Orbital launches in 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
Category:Earth observation satellites of the European Space Agency
Category:Spacecraft launched by Vega rockets