N° 7–2015: Call for Media: Last chance to see Sentinel-2 satellite
13 February 2015
ESA and the European Commission together with Airbus Defence and Space and the IABG test centre are inviting media to view the Sentinel‑2A satellite in Ottobrunn, Germany on 24 February.
Before Sentinel-2A is packed up and shipped to French Guiana for launch, media are invited to see this state-of-the-art satellite in the cleanroom. Project managers and specialists will explain how it is set to open a new chapter in our ability to monitor the health of Earth’s vegetation and track changes in the way land is used.
Offering ‘colour vision’ for Europe’s environmental monitoring Copernicus programme, Sentinel-2A combines high-resolution and novel multispectral capabilities – a first for ESA. With a 290 km-wide coverage path and frequent revisits, Sentinel-2 will deliver views of Earth’s changing lands in unprecedented detail and accuracy.
Information from this latest mission will help to improve agricultural practices, monitor the world’s forest, detect pollution in lakes and coastal waters, contribute to disaster mapping and much more.
The satellite was built by an industrial consortium led by prime contractor Airbus Defence and Space.
Sentinel-2 will be launched in June on a Vega rocket from the CSG, Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
The 24 February press event and visit to the cleanroom will include briefings by representatives from ESA, Airbus DS, application specialists and the European Commission.
Programme
11:00 Welcome address from Rudolf Schwarz, CEO of IABG
11:10 ESA’s Volker Liebig provides overview of the Copernicus Space Component
11:25 Reinhard Schulte-Braucks from the European Commission outlines Sentinel-2’s role in the Copernicus programme
11:40 Michael Menking from Airbus Defence and Space describes industry’s involvement
11:55 ESA’s Francois Spoto and Heinz Sontag from Airbus DS talk about the development of Sentinel-2
12:15 Markus Probeck from GAF-AG highlights some of the Sentinel‑2 applications
12:30–13:00 Opportunity for questions, followed by a visit to the cleanroom to see the satellite
13:0–14:00 Buffet lunch and interview opportunities
For further information, please contact:
ESA Media Relations Office
Tel: +33 1 53 69 72 99
Email: media@esa.int
Airbus Defence and Space
Mathias Pikelj
Tel: +49 7545 8 9123
Email: mathias.pikelj@astrium.eads.net
Astrid Emerit
Tel: 0033686654502
Email: astrid.emerit@astrium.eads.net
IABG
Monika Peters
Tel: +49 89 6088 2030
Email: petersm@iabg.de
Accreditation form
Sentinel-2A Media Day Tuesday, 24 February 2015, 11:00–14:00 CET
IABG
Einsteinstrasse 20
D-85521 Ottobrunn
presse_intern@iabg.de
First Name:__________________________
Surname:______________________
Nationality:____________________
Passport No.:___________________
Issued by______________________
Valid until:_____________________
Media: __________________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________________
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Tel: ______________________
Email: ___________________________________________
A valid ID-Card or Passport is mandadory to enter the event
About the European Space Agency
The European Space Agency (ESA) provides Europe’s gateway to space.
ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
ESA has 20 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, of whom 18 are Member States of the EU. Two other Member States of the EU, Hungary and Estonia, are likely soon to become new ESA Member States.
ESA has Cooperation Agreements with six other Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.
ESA is also working with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes.
By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country.
ESA develops the launchers, spacecraft and ground facilities needed to keep Europe at the forefront of global space activities.
Today, it develops and launches satellites for Earth observation, navigation, telecommunications and astronomy, sends probes to the far reaches of the Solar System and cooperates in the human exploration of space.
Learn more about ESA at www.esa.int
For further information:
ESA Media Relations Office
Tel: +33 1 53 69 72 99
Email: media@esa.int