Get ready to witness history! NASA is gearing up for the launch of Sentinel-6B, an international mission poised to revolutionize how we understand and protect our oceans. This mission is crucial for safeguarding coastal areas, improving weather forecasts, and supporting various commercial activities at sea.
The launch is scheduled for November 17th at 12:21 a.m. EST (or November 16th at 9:21 p.m. PST), aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. You can catch the prelaunch and launch coverage starting at 11:30 p.m. EST (8:30 p.m. PST) on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and other platforms.
This mission continues a long-standing effort to monitor our oceans. Satellites have been collecting critical sea level data since the early 1990s. The launch of Sentinel-6B will extend this data set to almost four decades of observations.
Here's a breakdown of the coverage schedule:
Saturday, November 15th, 4 p.m. EST: NASA will host a prelaunch teleconference. Speakers include:
- Karen St. Germain (Director, Earth Science Division, NASA Headquarters)
- Pierrik Veuilleumier (Sentinel-6B Project Manager, ESA)
- Parag Vaze (Sentinel-6B Project Manager, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
- Tim Dunn (Senior Launch Director, Launch Services Program, NASA's Kennedy Space Center)
- Julianna Scheiman (Director, NASA Science Missions, SpaceX)
- 1st Lt. William Harbin (Launch Weather Officer, U.S. Air Force)
You can listen to the teleconference on the NASA Video YouTube channel. Media interested in participating by phone must RSVP two hours before the call at ksc-newsroom@mail.nasa.gov.
Sunday, November 16th, 11:30 p.m. EST: Launch coverage begins on NASA+ and Amazon Prime.
Audio-Only Coverage: You can listen to the launch audio on NASA "V" circuits by dialing 321-867-1220 or -1240. On launch day, "mission audio" without commentary will be available at 321-867-7135.
NASA Website Coverage: On launch day, the agency's website will provide live streaming and blog updates starting no earlier than 11 p.m. EST, November 16th. You can follow the countdown on NASA's Sentinel-6/Jason-CS blog.
For questions about the countdown coverage, contact the NASA Kennedy newsroom at 321-867-2468.
Want to be part of the experience? You can register to attend the launch virtually through NASA's virtual guest program. This program provides curated resources and a virtual passport stamp after the launch.
Stay connected on social media! Follow and tag these accounts to share your excitement:
- X: @NASA, @NASAKennedy, @NASAJPL, @NASAEarth
- Facebook: NASA, NASA Kennedy, NASA JPL, NASA Earth
- Instagram: @NASA, @NASAKennedy, @NASAJPL, @NASAEarth
Sentinel-6B is the second of twin satellites in the Copernicus Sentinel-6/Jason-CS mission, a collaboration between NASA, ESA, EUMETSAT, and NOAA. The first satellite, Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, launched in November 2020. The European Commission provided funding, and the French space agency CNES offered technical expertise. This mission is the first international involvement in Copernicus, the European Union's Earth Observation Programme.
For more details, visit the mission website.
But here's where it gets interesting... This mission is a testament to international collaboration. Do you think this type of cooperation is essential for tackling global challenges like climate change and rising sea levels? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
