Jakarta – Sentinel 3 is a satellite whose main mission is in marine studies, developed by European Space Agency (One). The satellite is part of the Copernicus programme. However, it is also capable of providing data on the atmosphere and land mass.
Sentinel 3A was launched on 16 February 2016, along with its twin, Sentinel 3B, reached orbit on 25 April, Essa’s seventh Sentinel Earth observation satellite. Both satellites orbit on opposite sides of the planet, 506 miles (815 km) above Earth.
The multi-billion Copernicus program aims to help predict weather events such as El Nio and track the progress of global warming.
Their data could also help shipping companies map more efficient routes and could be used to monitor wildfires, water pollution and oil spills.
The Copernicus project has been described by ESA as the most ambitious planet Earth observation program ever conducted. The European Union and the ESA have committed over eight billion euros (Rp 146.7 trillion) of funding by 2020.
The launch of the Copernicus project became particularly urgent when Europe lost contact with the Earth observation satellite Envisat in 2012 after 10 years.
Sentinel-3 uses multiple sensory devices to achieve its goals. These are: sea and land surface temperature radiometer (SLSTR), ocean and land color instrument (OLCI), SAR altimeter (SRAL), satellite-integrated Doppler orbitography and radioposition (DORIS), and microwave radiometer (MWR).
According to the Daily Mail report, this satellite is very useful in mapping the temperature of the warm land on Earth. Especially at a time when a heat wave swept through most of mainland Europe.
