Thermal Protection for Copernicus Sentinel-1C, Europe’s New Environmental Satellite

On Thursday, December 5, the European environmental satellite “Copernicus Sentinel-1C” was successfully launched into space from Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, South America, aboard a European Vega-C rocket. “With our products we ensure for example that the satellite is protected from extreme temperatures in space and that the satellite’s position in orbit is precisely determined. This important environmental mission will give scientists a better understanding of our changing climate and environment, and we are delighted to contribute to this mission,” says Oliver Grassmann, Executive Vice President Satellites at Beyond Gravity. Headquartered in Zurich (Switzerland) Beyond Gravity is a leading supplier to both established customers and New Space customers. The Sentinel-1C mission will provide all-weather, day-and-night radar imagery for the monitoring of land and oceans – supporting environmental management, disaster response and climate change research. The main contractor for Sentinel-1C is Thales Alenia Space.

Thermal protection

A thermal insulation from Beyond Gravity protects the environmental satellite from the extreme cold and heat in space. A multi-layer thermal insulation made out of several layers of ultra-thin special polyimide foils will keep the instruments of the satellite at the required operating temperature despite the extremely harsh thermal environment  in space. The thermal insulation was designed and produced at Beyond Gravity’s sites in Austria. Nearly every European ESA satellite is protected by thermal insulation from Beyond Gravity. Beyond Gravity also supplied the antenna support structure, designed and produced at its site in Zurich, Switzerland.

Precise positioning for more accurate environmental data

The satellite’s position in space is determined to within centimeters using technology from Beyond Gravity’s site in Vienna, Austria. The more accurate the positioning, the more accurate the data provided by the satellite. The receiver can process both US GPS and European Galileo signals. The navigation receiver can also compute the new High Accuracy Service, which has been provided by the existing Galileo satellites since last year. Currently, Beyond Gravity’s navigation receivers determine the position of approximately 25 satellites in space. Beyond Gravity’s site in Gothenburg (Sweden) contributed the TTC antenna (Telemetry, Tracking and Command) for the satellite. The satellite will fly at an altitude of around 700 kilometers.

Fairing, adapter and computer for Vega-C rocket

At the Beyond Gravity site in Gothenburg, Sweden, the company produced the Vega-C On Board Computer. The computer controls the rocket during launch and is part of the Vega Avionics System. The company’s site in Linköping, Sweden, delivered the payload adapter system, including the separation system, which separates the satellite from the launch vehicle and places Sentinel-1C into space. At its location in Emmen, Switzerland, the company produced the payload fairing of the Vega-C rocket.

Radar images of Earth

Copernicus Sentinel-1C is a radar satellite that can image the surface of Earth through cloud and rain, day or night. Sentinel-1 carries a synthetic aperture radar instrument, which allows it to capture high-resolution imagery of Earth’s surface. This radar system provides detailed data on land subsidence, ice movements and ocean conditions. The satellite can provide crucial data for disaster response efforts, during events such as floods, landslides and oil spills. Those humanitarian and environmental efforts are supported by timely and accurate information from the satellite.

About Sentinel-1C

Sentinel-1C is an integral part of Copernicus, the Earth observation component of the European Union’s space program. Copernicus is considered as the world’s most advanced Earth observation system. It continuously provides free Earth observation data and services to public authorities, companies and citizens around the globe. The program, managed by the European Commission, is funded by the European Union with a contribution from the European Space Agency (ESA). Sentinel-1C was designed and built by a consortium of around 60 companies led by Thales Alenia Space and Airbus Defence and Space. Copernicus Sentinel-1C is the third Sentinel-1 satellite to be launched. Sentinel-1A was launched in 2014 and is still active. Sentinel-1B was launched in 2016, its mission ended in 2022. 

Vega-C rocket: 35 m tall launch vehicle

Europe’s Vega-C rocket can launch 2300 kg into space, such as small scientific and Earth observation satellites. The Vega-C is 35 meters tall and weighs 210 tons on the launch pad. Vega-C is the evolution of the Vega family of rockets and delivers increased performance, greater payload volume and improved competitiveness.

More information about the European Union’s Copernicus Earth observation program.

More information about the Vega-C European launcher program.

Media kit from Arianespace about the launch.

Images

Image 1: The environmental satellite Sentinel-1C is protected by thermal insulation from Beyond Gravity. © ESA/ATG Medialab. Download:  https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2013/05/Sentinel-1

Image 2: The environmental satellite Sentinel-1C will provide detailed imagery of Earth, that can be used for monitoring the oceans, including shipping lanes, sea ice, icebergs and oil spills. © ESA/ATG Medialab. Download: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2014/01/Sentinel-1_radar_vision

Image 3: Successful launch of Vega-C. The rocket used a computer, payload fairing and payload adapter from Beyond Gravity. © ESA-CNES-ARIANESPACE/Optique vidéo du CSG–S. Martin. Download:  https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2024/12/Vega-C_takes_Sentinel-1C_into_orbit

Video: Learn how Beyond Gravity is pushing boundaries of what is technically feasible for the benefit of humankind.