Almost a ‘carbon copy’

Sentinel-6B is essentially a twin of Sentinel-6 ‘Michael Freilich' with the same design, launcher, and launch site. Many systems, including flight dynamics and simulations, are reused or slightly evolved from Sentinel-6.

“One main aspect is that the team has changed a lot since Sentinel-6, both at ESOC and on the project and manufacturer side,” explains Eduardo Zornoza, Spacecraft Operations Manager for Sentinel-6B. “For this reason, we’ve scheduled an adequate number of sessions to get everyone up to speed and familiar with the satellite.”

Unlike other Copernicus Sentinel Earth Observation missions, but similarly to Sentinel-6, the Launch and Early Orbit Phase will be handled by teams at ESOC, while daily flight operations will be managed by Eumetsat, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites.