Future of Copernicus Sentinel Expansion missions secured

Future of Copernicus Sentinel Expansion missions secured
by Erica Marchand
Milan, Italy (SPX) Oct 21, 2024

The Copernicus Sentinel Expansion Missions are poised to significantly advance Europe's Earth observation capabilities, following the confirmation of funding for the development of all six missions. This progress is largely attributed to the United Kingdom's recent decision to rejoin the European Union's Copernicus programme, ensuring the completion of these important missions. The announcement was made during the International Astronautical Congress in Milan, Italy, this week.

The existing Copernicus programme is supported by six satellite families known as the Sentinels. These satellites are designed to meet the needs of Copernicus services and their users. The new Sentinel Expansion Missions will enhance these capabilities, offering even more detailed data on Earth's dynamic systems.

Simonetta Cheli, ESA's Director of Earth Observation Programmes, emphasized the importance of this development: "The decision by the UK Government to participate to the EU Copernicus Programme has been essential to secure the completion of the Copernicus Sentinel Expansion Missions. These missions are critical for addressing EU policy and gaps in Copernicus user needs, and to expand the current capabilities of the Copernicus Space Component."

Sentinel Expansion Missions Overview

1. CO2M: The first of the new Sentinel Expansion Missions set to launch, the Copernicus Anthropogenic Carbon Dioxide Monitoring (CO2M) mission will consist of three satellites. These satellites will help track emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, allowing for better monitoring of greenhouse gases. This mission will play a crucial role in assessing global efforts to meet the Paris Climate Agreement targets.

2. CIMR: The Copernicus Imaging Microwave Radiometer Mission will monitor polar regions, particularly the Arctic. With a suite of sensors, the CIMR satellites will gather high-resolution data on sea-ice concentration, sea-surface temperature, salinity, and snow, helping to inform decision-makers and contribute to climate change mitigation efforts.

3. CHIME: Focused on supporting EU natural resource management policies, the Copernicus Hyperspectral Imaging Mission for the Environment (CHIME) will provide hyperspectral data to assist in sustainable agricultural practices and biodiversity management. CHIME's two satellites will collect detailed observations related to soil properties and land use worldwide.

4. CRISTAL: The Copernicus Polar Ice and Snow Topography Altimeter mission will measure and monitor sea-ice thickness, snow depth, and ice-sheet elevations. CRISTAL's dual-satellite system will improve our understanding of climate processes and support polar maritime operations, building on the success of ESA's CryoSat mission.

5. LSTM: The Land Surface Temperature Monitoring mission is set to offer crucial insights into land-surface temperature variations, helping improve agricultural productivity and respond to water scarcity. With two satellites in orbit, LSTM will also provide data useful for managing droughts and addressing land degradation.

6. ROSE-L: The Radar Observing System for Europe in L-band will provide continuous day-and-night, all-weather monitoring of Earth's land, oceans, and ice. Its synthetic aperture radar will help track geohazards, monitor soil moisture, and support hydrological and weather forecasting, all while providing essential insights into the terrestrial carbon cycle.

These missions represent a leap forward for Earth observation, equipping users with more precise and diverse data to better understand and protect our planet.