In 2014, the first Sentinel-1 satellite was launched. Over the past decade, the Sentinel-1 constellation has been widely used for tracking sea ice, monitoring land subsidence, responding to floods and earthquakes, performing InSAR deformation analysis, and supporting ocean remote sensing. Many remote sensing and GIS researchers have even relied on its data for their theses.
However, satellites have finite operational lives. Sentinel-1B was retired earlier due to a power supply failure, and Sentinel-1A will also end its mission this month. Fortunately, Sentinel-1D, launched last year, completed its in-orbit commissioning in May 2026 and now forms a dual-satellite constellation with Sentinel-1C, temporarily easing the application pressure. Still, the demand for next-generation capabilities is urgent.
A Major Deal at the Berlin Air Show
On June 10, at the ILA Berlin Air Show, the European Space Agency (ESA) formally signed a contract with Thales Alenia Space to develop two next-generation satellites for the Copernicus programme: Sentinel-1 NG (Next Generation). The initial contract is valued at approximately €700 million, with the total project cost expected to reach $1.15 billion.
