Post by ARIANESPACE

April 3, 2014 - the beginning of a new way to observe Earth. On this day, Arianespace launched Sentinel-1A from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, marking the start of the Copernicus programme. Equipped with a high-performance radar, Sentinel-1A was designed to see what others cannot. Day and night. Through clouds. Across oceans, ice, and land. It was the first of a series of Sentinel missions, each contributing to a comprehensive, continuous view of our planet. From monitoring sea ice and oil spills to tracking ground movements, air quality, and sea levels, Copernicus delivers critical data to better understand and protect our planet. With thousands of gigabytes of data generated every day across the constellation, the programme has set a new standard in Earth observation. This launch also reflected Arianespace’s ability to serve Europe’s institutional missions, supporting long-term programmes that contribute to environmental monitoring, security, and autonomy. Because beyond reaching orbit, space enables us to better understand the world we live in. #LaunchingAmbitions European Space Agency - ESA Centre National d'Études Spatiales European Commission