November 21, 2020 5:17 pm

Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich (Sentinel-6A; Jason-CS)

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Falcon 9

Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
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November 21, 2020 5:17 pm

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2026-07-11 18:10:04

The Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich and Sentinel-6B make up the Sentinel-6 mission, also known as Jason Continuity of Service (Jason-CS), which is a partnership between NASA, NOAA, ESA, and EUMETSAT. This mission continues the long-term global sea surface height data record begun by first Jason satellites in 1992. Named after former NASA Earth Science Division Director Michael Freilich, Sentinel-6 Michail Freilich will provide altimeter data necessary for ocean climate monitoring, ocean modelling and numerical ocean prediction, weather forecasting, marine meteorology, coastal altimetry and modelling. A secondary objective of the mission is to collect high-resolution vertical profiles of temperature, using the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Radio-Occultation sounding technique, to assess temperature changes in the troposphere and stratosphere and to support numerical weather prediction. Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich is to operate in a highly-inclined circular orbit at an altitude of 1336 km, with an operational mission lasting 5 years. Near-identical Sentinel-6B is planned to follow-up shortly after.
Launch Overview
Window Open 17:17 UTC
Window Close 17:17 UTC
Lift Off Nov 21, 2020 · 17:17 UTC
Launch Facility Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Launch Pad Space Launch Complex 4E
Target Orbit Low Earth Orbit
Payload Overview
Customer SpaceX
Payload Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich (Sentinel-6A; Jason-CS)
Rocket Falcon 9
Destination Low Earth Orbit
Recovery Overview
Landing Location See Mission Notes
Landing Type RTLS / Droneship
The Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich and Sentinel-6B make up the Sentinel-6 mission, also known as Jason Continuity of Service (Jason-CS), which is a partnership between NASA, NOAA, ESA, and EUMETSAT. This mission continues the long-term global sea surface height data record begun by first Jason satellites in 1992. Named after former NASA Earth Science Division Director Michael Freilich, Sentinel-6 Michail Freilich will provide altimeter data necessary for ocean climate monitoring, ocean modelling and numerical ocean prediction, weather forecasting, marine meteorology, coastal altimetry and modelling. A secondary objective of the mission is to collect high-resolution vertical profiles of temperature, using the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Radio-Occultation sounding technique, to assess temperature changes in the troposphere and stratosphere and to support numerical weather prediction. Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich is to operate in a highly-inclined circular orbit at an altitude of 1336 km, with an operational mission lasting 5 years. Near-identical Sentinel-6B is planned to follow-up shortly after.

Height

LEO Payload

Total Launches

Status

SpaceX
Space Launch Complex 4E
Launch Overview
Window Open 17:17 UTC
Window Close 17:17 UTC
Lift Off Nov 21, 2020 · 17:17 UTC
Launch Facility Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Launch Pad Space Launch Complex 4E
Target Orbit Low Earth Orbit
Payload Overview
Customer SpaceX
Payload Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich (Sentinel-6A; Jason-CS)
Rocket Falcon 9
Destination Low Earth Orbit
Recovery Overview
Landing Location See Mission Notes
Landing Type RTLS / Droneship

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