Initial GNSS-RO Results from Sentinel-6
Chi
Ao
JPL
Oral
The Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite was launched in November 2020 with the primary objective in continuing the precise global sea level height measurements from the Jason series of satellites. In addition, Sentinel-6 MF carries the same TriG GNSS-RO instrument as COSMIC-2 that is capable of tracking GPS and GLONASS satellites with high SNRs. Sentinel-6 MF is orbiting at 1336 km altitude with an inclination of 66 deg, thus providing global and diurnal RO coverages that complement COSMIC-2, MetOp, and other missions. Sentinel-6 MF has a design mission lifetime of 5.5 years. It will be followed with a launch of an identical satellite in 2025 to extend its measurement record to at least a decade.
The Sentinel-6 mission is an international partnership involving multiple agencies from the U.S. and Europe (ESA, EUMETSAT, NASA, NOAA, CNES). For GNSS-RO, JPL is responsible for operational near-real-time (NRT) processing of the data needed for numerical weather prediction while EUMETSAT is responsible for providing non-time-critical (NTC) products.
In this talk, we will discuss post-launch satellite and GNSS-RO instrument status. We will present preliminary analysis results, early cal/val activities, processing status, and plans for data distribution.
The Sentinel-6 mission is an international partnership involving multiple agencies from the U.S. and Europe (ESA, EUMETSAT, NASA, NOAA, CNES). For GNSS-RO, JPL is responsible for operational near-real-time (NRT) processing of the data needed for numerical weather prediction while EUMETSAT is responsible for providing non-time-critical (NTC) products.
In this talk, we will discuss post-launch satellite and GNSS-RO instrument status. We will present preliminary analysis results, early cal/val activities, processing status, and plans for data distribution.
Presentation file