WMO OSCAR | Satellite: Sentinel-3A

Satellite: Sentinel-3A

Satellite details

Acronym	Sentinel-3A
Full name	Sentinel-3A
Satellite Description	1st flight unit of the Sentinel-3 programme. Main mission: ocean and land observation. Substantial contribution to Solid Earth (topography).
Mass at launch	1250 kg	Dry mass	1150 kg
Power	2300 W
Data access link	https://navigator.eumetsat.int/search?query=sentinel-3A
Data access information	Description of data services at https://www.eumetsat.int/website/home/Satellites/CurrentSatellites/Sentinel3/index.html Product delivery timeliness may be: Near-Real-Time (NRT): < 3 h from sensing Short Time Critical (STC): < 48 h from sensing Non-Time Critical (NTC): < 1 month from sensing. NRT Marine products are distributed by EUMETSAT by EUMETCast and via the Copernicus Online Data Access.
Orbit	Sunsynchronous orbit	Altitude	814.5 km
ECT	10:00 desc

Space agency	ESA , EC, EUMETSAT
Status	Operational
Details on Status (as available)	Sentinel-3A operations were transferred from ESA to EUMETSAT on 13 July 2016.
Launch	16 Feb 2016	EOL	≥2023
Last update:	2020-08-21

Associated satellite programme and related satellites

Note: red tag: no longer operational , green tag: operational , blue tag : future

Sentinel-3
- Sentinel-3A (2016 - 2023)
- Sentinel-3B (2018 - 2025)
- Sentinel-3C (2024 - 2031)
- Sentinel-3D (2028 - 2035)

Satellite Payload

All known Instruments flying on Sentinel-3A

Acronym	Full name
DORIS	Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite
GPS	GPS Receiver
LRR	Laser Retro-Reflector
MWR	Micro-Wave Radiometer
OLCI	Ocean and Land Colour Imager
SLSTR	Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer
SRAL	Synthetic aperture Radar Altimeter

Satellite payload

All known instruments flying on Sentinel-3A

Instrument	Full name	Start date	EOL date	Status	NRT data	Data latency (mins)	Instrument landing page
DORIS	Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite	13 Jul 2016	≥2023 *	Active	Yes		earth.esa.int
GPS	GPS Receiver	13 Jul 2016	≥2023 *	Active	Yes		earth.esa.int
LRR	Laser Retro-Reflector	13 Jul 2016	≥2023 *	Active	Yes		earth.esa.int
MWR	Micro-Wave Radiometer	13 Jul 2016	≥2023 *	Active	Yes		earth.esa.int
OLCI	Ocean and Land Colour Imager	13 Jul 2016	≥2023 *	Active	Yes		earth.esa.int
SLSTR	Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer	13 Jul 2016	≥2023 *	Active	Yes		earth.esa.int
SRAL	Synthetic aperture Radar Altimeter	13 Jul 2016	≥2023 *	Active	Yes	116	earth.esa.int

* The information in this field is estimated or assumed

Satellite frequencies for Earth Observation, data transfer and platform communications and control

Frequencies for satellite management

Service	Direction	Frequency (MHz)	Emission designator	Bandwidth (kHz)	Polarisation	D/A	Data rate (kbps) or Baseband (kHz)	Comments
DORIS	E-S	401.25 MHz	23K0G1D	23 kHz	RHCP	D	4 kbps	Precise positioning by DORIS
DORIS	E-S	2036.25 MHz	95K0G1D	95 kHz	RHCP	D	4 kbps	Precise positioning by DORIS
TC	E-S	2075.65 MHz	768KG2D	768 kHz	RHCP	D	64 kbps	Telecommands
TM	S-E	2254.1 MHz	2M20G1D	2200 kHz	RHCP	D	2000 kbps	High Data Rate Telemetry

Earth observation MW frequencies

Service	Sensing mode	Frequency (GHz)	Bandwidth (MHz)	Polarisation	Comments
SRAL	active	5.41 GHz	320 MHz	-	C-band radar altimeter
SRAL	active	13.575 GHz	350 MHz	-	Ku-band radar altimeter
MWR	passive	23.8 GHz	400 MHz	-	Water vapour channel (supporting altimeter)
MWR	passive	36.5 GHz	1000 MHz	-	Window channel (supporting altimeter)

Frequencies for scientific data acquisition and communication services at ground stations

Service	Direction	Frequency (MHz)	Bandwidth (kHz)	Polarisation	D/A	Data rate (kbps) or Baseband (kHz)	Comments
Raw Data	S-E	8095 MHz	140000 kHz	RHCP	D	260000/280000 kbps	Raw data downlink
Raw Data	S-E	8260 MHz	140000 kHz	RHCP	D	260000/280000 kbps	Raw data downlink