Bruno Berruti

The Sentinel-3 mission and its topography element

In the frame of GMES Program, ESA is currently starting the implementation phase of Sentinel-3 mission, which is intended to provide sustained Ocean and Land observation data over a period of 15 to 20 years. The Topography element of this mission will serve primarily the marine operational users but will also allow the monitoring of sea ice and land ice, as well as inland water surfaces, using novel observation techniques. The launch date for this mission is currently foreseen mid 2012.

The Ocean and Land Colour Imager (OLCI) for the Sentinel 3 GMES Mission: status and first test results

The Ocean and Land Colour Imager (OLCI) is a high accuracy visible spectral imager selected as optical payload for the Sentinel 3 component of the GMES mission, to provide climatological data continuity with the previous ESA Envisat missions. OLCI is based on the very successful opto-mechanical and imaging design of MERIS. The instrument is a quasi-autonomous, self contained, visible-NIR push-broom imaging spectrometer and incorporates significant improvements when compared to MERIS. The paper highlights the technical and programmatic challenges of the project, first results from the EM test activities and a projected flight model performance summary.

Status of the optical payload and processor development of ESA's Sentinel 3 mission

In order to meet Earth observation needs of the European Union-ESA Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) programme, ESA decided to develop the Sentinels as first series of operational satellites. The series of Sentinel-3 satellites will provide global, frequent and near-realtime ocean, ice and land monitoring. It continues Envisats altimetry, the multispectral, medium-resolution visible and infrared ocean and land-surface observations of ERS, Envisat and Spot, and includes enhancements to meet the operational revisit requirements and to facilitate new products and evolution of services. The first launch is expected in 2012. In this paper the design of the major instruments and their basic performance parameters will be introduced as well as the expected accuracies of the main data products.

GMES Sentinel-3: Mission Overview and Aspects of the Calval Plan for its Optical Payload

The European Union-ESA Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) programme decided to develop the Sentinels as first series of operational satellites in order to meet specific Earth observation user needs. The series of Sentinel-3 satellites will provide global, frequent and near-realtime ocean, ice and land monitoring. It continues Envisats altimetry, the multispectral, medium-resolution visible and infrared ocean and land-surface observations of ERS, Envisat and Spot, and includes enhancements to meet the operational revisit requirements and to facilitate new products and evolution of services. The first launch is expected in 2013. In this paper an outline of the Sentinel-3 satellite and optical payload is presented. Dedicated calibration and validation activities regarding the sea and land surface temperature radiometer (SLSTR) and ocean and land colour radiometer (OLCI) are then reviewed. Calibration and validation (calval) activities are based on the heritage gained from ENVISAT MERIS and AATSR experience and cover pre-launch, in-orbit commissioning and operational measures for the Sentinel 3 satellites.

Operational Oceanography and the Sentinel-3 System

The field of Operational Oceanography has matured significantly over the last 30 years, and the advent of satellite oceanography has accelerated the development of robust numerical ocean forecasting capabilities. This chapter provides an overview of what is operational oceanography, how it has evolved, and what data needs of todays’ users of operational oceanography can be satisfied. The chapter continues with a description of present developments in operational oceanography, mainly in the framework of the joint European Union/European Space Agency initiative Global Monitoring for Environment and Security and concentrates in the recent initiation of the implementation of the European space mission Sentinel-3. The Sentinel-3 overall mission architecture and the satellite are described in detail. Special emphasis is made on the instrument that the satellite carries and the operational products that it will deliver. Some global land applications, which will also be covered by Sentinel-3, are also mentioned. The chapter finishes with some conclusions.

Sentinel-3 payload overview

In order to meet Earth observation needs of the European Union-ESA Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) programme, ESA decided to develop the Sentinels as first series of operational satellites. The series of Sentinel-3 satellites will provide global, frequent and near-realtime ocean, ice and land monitoring. It continues Envisats altimetry, the multispectral, medium-resolution visible and infrared ocean and landsurface observations of ERS, Envisat and Spot, and includes enhancements to meet the operational revisit requirements and to facilitate new products and evolution of services. The first launch is expected in 2013. In this paper the design of the major instruments and their basic performance parameters will be introduced as well as the expected accuracies of the main data products.