MISSION NAME
Sentinel-1B
Status
Success
DATE
25 APR 2016
LAUNCH PROVIDER
Arianespace
Launch Pad
Soyuz Launch Complex
Description
Sentinel-1 is a two satellite constellation for land and ocean monitoring. C-band imaging will provide an all-weather day-and-night supply of imagery for Copernicus user services. This is the second and last satellite launched of the pair.
Soyuz STA Fregat
Rocket Description
The 2.1a version includes conversion from analog to digital flight control system and uprated engines on the booster and the first stage with improved injection systems. The new digital flight control and telemetry systems allow the rocket to launch from a fixed rather than angled launch platform and adjust its heading in flight. A digital control system also enables the launch of larger commercial satellites with wider and longer payload fairings such as the ST-type fairing. These fairings introduce too much aerodynamic instability for the old analog system to handle. This stage continues to use the RD-0110 engine. The 2.1a/ST version is sometimes called Soyuz ST-A.