Sentinel-1: watching every move

As an advanced radar mission, Sentinel-1 can image the surface of Earth through cloud and rain and regardless of whether it is day or night. Radar images are the best way of tracking ground deformation and systematic observations mean that ground movement barely noticeable in everyday life can be detected and closely monitored. As well as being a valuable resource for urban planning, this kind of information is essential for monitoring shifts from earthquakes, landslides and volcanic uplift. The Sentinel-1 mission is
the result of close collaboration between ESA, the European Commission, industry, service providers and data users. Designed and built by a consortium of around 60 companies led by Thales Alenia Space and Airbus Defence and Space, it is an outstanding example of Europe’s technological excellence.