Sentinel-1D

Sentinel-1D

Model of a Sentinel-1 satellite (with radar antenna missing)
Mission type	Earth observation
Operator	ESA
Website	Sentinel-1 (ESA)
Mission duration	Planned: 7 years [1]
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type	Sentinel-1
Bus	Prima [2]
Manufacturer	Thales Alenia Space Airbus Defence and Space [1]
Launch mass	2,164 kg (4,771 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date	4 November 2025, 21:03 (2025-11-04UTC21:03) UTC
Rocket	Ariane 62 (VA265) [3] [4]
Launch site	Kourou ELA-4 [3]
Contractor	Arianespace
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Low Earth
Altitude	693 km [5]
Sentinel-1 ←  Sentinel-1C Sentinel ←  Sentinel-5A Sentinel-6B  →

Sentinel-1D is an upcoming European radar imaging satellite. It is the second of two additional satellites in the Sentinel-1 constellation, part of the European Union's Copernicus programme on Earth observation. The satellite is equipped with a C-SAR sensor, capable of providing high-resolution imagery regardless of weather conditions. ^{[6] [7] [8] [9]} Sentinel-1D will be launched on Ariane 6 in late 2025. ^[10]

Timeline

Development contract was signed with Thales Alenia Space of Italy in December 2015. ^[11] In November 2022, the satellite's launch was scheduled for the second half of 2024. ^[12] In January 2025, ESA signed a contract with Arianespace to launch the satellite in the second half of 2025 on Ariane 6. ^[13]

In September 2025 the satellite was transported from the cleanroom in Cannes, France, via Turin, Italy to French Guiana by the Ukrainian Antonov Airlines. ^{[14] [15]} At the same time, control teams at ESOC begun simulations of the Sentinel-1D's Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP). This is the first time an ESOC-operated satellite is launching on Ariane 6. ^[16] The launch is planned for 4 November 2025. ^[17]

Arrival of Sentinel-1D in Kourou

See also

• Spaceflight portal

• 2025 in spaceflight
• List of European Space Agency programmes and missions

References

1. "Facts and figures / Sentinel-1". ESA . Retrieved 28 April 2016.
2. "Thales Alenia Space flies high at the Space Symposium". Thales Group. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
3. "Sentinel 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
4. JOSEPH-GABRIEL, Daphné (2025-10-06). "Arianespace to launch EU's Copernicus Sentinel-1D satellite on November 4, 2025, with Ariane 6". Newsroom Arianespace. Retrieved 2025-10-06.
5. "ESA - Sentinel-1" . Retrieved 18 January 2022.
6. "Sentinel-1 D Satellite Mission Summary | CEOS Database". database.eohandbook.com. Retrieved 2025-10-06.
7. "WMO OSCAR | Satellite: Sentinel-1D". space.oscar.wmo.int. Retrieved 2025-10-06.
8. "Countdown to launch – Copernicus Sentinel-1D lifts off in November - European Commission". defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 2025-10-06.
9. JOSEPH-GABRIEL, Daphné (2025-10-06). "Arianespace to launch EU's Copernicus Sentinel-1D satellite on November 4, 2025, with Ariane 6". Newsroom Arianespace. Retrieved 2025-10-06.
10. "Ariane 6 to take Sentinel-1D into orbit". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2025-10-06.
11. "Thales Alenia Inks Deal To Build 2 More Sentinel Satellites for ESA".
12. "Arianespace supporting the European Union's Copernicus programme with Vega C". Arianespace (Press release). 29 November 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
13. "Ariane 6 to take Sentinel-1D into orbit". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2025-04-06.
14. "Copernicus Sentinel-1D manoeuvred into place". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2025-10-06.
15. "Sentinel-1D in French Guiana for launch campaign". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2025-10-06.
16. ""We know the drill": Sentinel-1D begins streamlined simulations training". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2025-10-06.
17. JOSEPH-GABRIEL, Daphné (2025-10-06). "Arianespace to launch EU's Copernicus Sentinel-1D satellite on November 4, 2025, with Ariane 6". Newsroom Arianespace. Retrieved 2025-10-06.