NASA Launches Satellite to Monitor Earth’s Oceans

NASA and SpaceX have partnered to launch a satellite that will observe and provide accurate measurements of the Earth's oceans.

Collaborative Effort

The recent launch took place at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, carrying the Sentinel-6 B satellite.

Sentinel-6B was aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from SpaceX, though several partners were involved in the launch collaboration. Besides NASA, these included the European Space Agency and the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration was also involved, given the satellite's mission to provide information on the ocean and atmosphere.

The Importance of Sea Monitoring

Researchers say the satellite, which is approximately the size of a pickup truck, will be used to measure sea levels and assess wind speeds, wave heights, temperature, and humidity. The information can be utilized in various ways, including enhancing weather forecasting with the aim of safeguarding people and infrastructure from damaging events, such as hurricanes.

NASA says the observations will also provide the basis for flood predictions and further support the global shipping industry by identifying hazards.

Sentinel-6B

Sentinel-6B replaces the Sentinel-6, Michael Freilich, a satellite launched in 2020 in an effort to measure the heights of the ocean and better understand climate patterns. Dave Gallagher, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) director, described the satellite's“powerful suite of instruments,” adding the 6B“will measure about 90% of Earth's oceans down to fractions of an inch.”

Image credit: Carla Thomas/NASA

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