ESA awards 700 million-euro contract to Thales Alenia Space for next-generation Sentinel-1 satellites
Berlin, June 11. The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded Thales Alenia Space a contract to develop and manufacture the next generation of Copernicus Sentinel-1 Earth-observation satellites, marking a major step forward in Europe’s environmental monitoring capabilities.
The agreement, signed during the ILA Berlin air show, activates the initial phase of a 700 million-euro (about $810 million) programme covering the construction of two satellites. Airbus will provide the main C-band synthetic aperture radar instruments for the mission.
Designed primarily for maritime surveillance, the Sentinel-1 Next Generation satellites will also carry Automatic Identification System (AIS) payloads, enabling the tracking and monitoring of ships around the world.
As the incumbent contractor for the programme, Thales Alenia Space said the new spacecraft will be based on its proven multi-mission platform already employed on other Copernicus missions.
The satellites will feature large phased-array antennas measuring 13.6 metres by 0.94 metres and incorporate advanced signal acquisition technologies that will significantly enhance imaging performance. According to ESA, the new system will improve image resolution fourfold, delivering images with a resolution of 5 metres by 5 metres, compared with the current 5 metres by 20 metres offered by first-generation Sentinel-1 satellites.
“While current Sentinel-1 satellites continue to serve users in orbit, we are excited to see the next-generation mission take shape,” said Simonetta Cheli, ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programmes.
ESA said the upgraded satellites will also expand coverage to the polar regions, improving environmental monitoring in areas that are particularly vulnerable to climate change and other environmental impacts.
The Sentinel-1 Next Generation mission forms part of the European Union’s Copernicus programme, aimed at providing advanced Earth-observation data for applications ranging from maritime security and disaster response to climate and environmental monitoring.
