Sentinel-1 Satellite Constellation Capabilities
Advanced All-Weather SAR Imaging Satellites for Land, Ocean, and Disaster Monitoring
About Sentinel-1A, 1B & 1C
Sentinel-1A, Sentinel-1B, and Sentinel-1C are a constellation of European Space Agency (ESA) radar imaging satellites launched in 2014, 2016, and 2024, respectively. These satellites provide high-quality all-weather synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery for monitoring land, ocean, and ice conditions, supporting applications such as maritime surveillance, disaster response, and ground deformation monitoring.
Note: Sentinel-1B experienced an anomaly on December 23, 2021, affecting its instrument electronics power supply. While it is no longer operational, archive data from Sentinel-1B remains available for research and historical analysis.
All-Weather Imaging
Capture reliable radar imagery regardless of weather or cloud cover, ensuring continuous monitoring for disaster response and environmental management.
High-Frequency Imaging
12-day repeat cycle enables frequent revisits, supporting timely monitoring of land cover, water, and ice changes.
Ground Deformation Monitoring
Interferometric SAR (InSAR) capability measures subtle land movements, aiding earthquake, landslide, and geological hazard monitoring.
Features and Benefits
- Sentinel-1A and 1C are equipped with SAR, providing high-resolution, all-weather imaging for coastal, maritime, and inland monitoring.
- The 12-day revisit cycle enables frequent observation of the same area, supporting continuous monitoring of environmental changes.
- InSAR capability allows measurement of ground deformation, essential for geological hazard monitoring such as earthquakes and landslides.
- Global coverage ensures monitoring of land, ice, and water across all regions, making Sentinel-1 satellites valuable for international projects.
- Archive data from Sentinel-1B is available for historical analysis and research purposes.
