The Copernicus Sentinel-1D satellite has joined the Sentinel-1 mission in orbit. The launch took place on 4 November 2025 at 22:02 CET (18:02 local time) on an Ariane 6 launcher from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
The Sentinel-1 mission provides high-resolution radar images of the Earth’s surface, performing day and night, in all weather conditions. The service is used by disaster response teams, environmental agencies, maritime authorities and climate scientists, who rely on frequent updates of critical data.
To optimize global coverage and data delivery, Sentinel-1D will work in tandem with Sentinel-1C, flying in the same orbit but 180° apart. Both satellites carry a C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) instrument, which captures high-resolution imagery of the Earth’s surface. They are also equipped with Automatic Identification System (AIS) equipment to improve identification and tracking of ships. When Sentinel-1D is fully operational, it will enable more frequent AIS observations, including data on ship identification, location and course direction, enabling accurate tracking.
Sentinel-1D was launched on Europe’s heavy-lift rocket Ariane 6 on flight designated VA265.
Read the full story: Copernicus Sentinel-1D reaches Ariane 6 orbit
Access related broadcast quality video content: Sentinel-1D launch on Ariane 6 – VA265 / Sentinel-1 mission animation
