Call for Media: Upcoming Copernicus Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite to map Earth’s oceans


Applications

12/10/2021
231 views
2 likes

Media representatives are invited to join an online press conference on Friday, 16 October, at 16:00 CEST (10:00 EDT) to discuss the November launch of the Copernicus Sentinel-6 ‘Michael Freilich’ ocean-monitoring satellite. Follow the briefing live on ESA Web TV.

Charting sea level

Sea-level rise is one of the most severe consequences of climate change. The rate at which oceans are rising has accelerated over the past 25 years, and scientists expect it to speed up in the years to come. To be able to keep a closer eye on sea level, permanent observations over the world’s oceans are needed.

Scheduled for launch on 10 November 2021 from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the Copernicus Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite is the first of two identical satellites to be launched sequentially to provide accurate measurements of sea-level change.

Copernicus Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich: preparing for launch

Renamed in honour of Michael H. Freilich, the former director of NASA’s Earth Science Division, the satellite will continue the legacy of the Jason series of missions and extend the records of sea level into its fourth decade. The satellite will map 95% of Earth’s ice-free ocean every 10 days and provide crucial information for operational oceanography and climate studies.

The Copernicus Sentinel-6 mission is a true example of international cooperation. While Sentinel-6 is one of the European Union’s family of Copernicus missions, its implementation is the result of the unique collaboration between ESA, NASA, Eumetsat and NOAA, with contribution from the French space agency CNES.

Event programme

Key speakers include:

  • Thomas Zurbuchen - Associate Administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate
  • Pierre Delsaux - European Commission’s Deputy Director General for Defence Industry and Space
  • Josef Aschbacher - Director for Earth Observation Programmes at ESA
  • Karen St. Germain - Director of NASA’s Earth Science Division
  • Parag Vaze - Project Manager at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
  • Alain Ratier - Director General of Eumetsat
  • Nadya Vinogradova-Shiffer - Program Scientist at NASA Headquarters
  • Tim Dunn, launch director for NASA’s Launch Services Program at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida

Livestream information

Follow the live webstream: esawebtv.esa.int

Ask your questions by using the hashtag #SeeingTheSeas on social media during the briefing.

Media registration

Media who would like to ask questions via phone during the event must provide their name and affiliation by 15 October 01:30 CEST (19:30 EDT), to Rexana Vizza (rexana.v.vizza@jpl.nasa.gov) of JPL’s Digital News and Media Office at or by calling (+1)818-393-1931. Valid media credentials are required.

For further information, please contact ESA Newsroom and Media Relations Office – Ninja Menning at media@esa.int or by calling +31 71 565 6409.

Social media

Follow ESA Earth Observation on:

Twitter: @ESA_EO @esa
Instagram: ESA_Earth and Europeanspaceagency
Facebook: EuropeanSpaceAgency
YouTube: ESA

Follow the mission using the hashtags: #Sentinel6 and #SpaceCare

Further information

More information about Copernicus Sentinel-6 mission:

https://www.esa.int/Sentinel-6

Copernicus Sentinel-6 facts and figures

More information about ESA Earth observation:

https://www.esa.int/eo

Images

Images of Copernicus Sentinel-6

ESA’s Photo Library for Professionals

Terms and conditions for using ESA images

For questions or more information related to ESA images, please contact directly spaceinimages@esa.int

Videos

Videos of Copernicus Sentinel-6

ESA’s Video Library for Professionals

Terms and conditions for using ESA videos

For questions or more information related to ESA videos, please contact directly spaceinvideos@esa.int

About the European Space Agency

The European Space Agency (ESA) provides Europe’s gateway to space.

ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.

ESA has 22 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Slovenia and Latvia are Associate Members.

ESA has established formal cooperation with six Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.

Learn more about ESA at www.esa.int





Source link