The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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Sentinel-1A, the first satellite for Europe’s environmental monitoring Copernicus programme, was launched from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on 3 April 2014. It was joined by its identical twin, Sentinel-1B, on 25 April 2016. Orbiting 180° apart, the constellation optimises global coverage and data delivery for Copernicus services. This animation shows some of the critical stages delivering Sentinel-1B into orbit around Earth. After separating from the Fregat upper stage, the satellite takes around 10 hours to deploy its 12 m-long radar and two 10m-long solar wings. This deployment sequence is unique, choreographed to ensure that both deploy in the safest possible way. This approach also allows power from the wings to be available as soon as possible so that the satellite is independent.