The European Space Agency (ESA), in partnership with Airbus and other stakeholders, has successfully launched the Airbus-built Sentinel-4 instrument aboard the Meteosat Third Generation Sounder-1 (MTG-S1) satellite. This marks a significant leap forward in Europe’s Earth observation and air quality monitoring capabilities.
Alain Fauré, Head of Space Systems at Airbus, stated, “The successful launch of Sentinel-4 on board MTG-S1 is further proof of the innovation and successful collaboration within the European space sector. The data provided by Sentinel-4 will be an essential contribution to the Copernicus programme, helping us to monitor, and ultimately improve air quality for citizens across Europe.”
Developed in Germany on behalf of ESA, Sentinel-4 is a state-of-the-art UV-VIS-NIR spectrometer. It is designed to deliver high temporal resolution data on atmospheric pollutants, including nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), ozone (O₃), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), formaldehyde, and aerosols. These measurements are critical for air quality assessment, pollution forecasting, and climate research across Europe and North Africa.
Enhanced Capabilities from Geostationary Orbit
Mounted on the geostationary MTG-S1 satellite at 36,000 kilometers above the Earth, Sentinel-4 will provide hourly data coverage across Europe and North Africa. Its integration into the MTG satellite enables simultaneous monitoring of meteorological and atmospheric chemical parameters, allowing for more accurate weather predictions and improved understanding of weather-climate interactions.
The data collected by Sentinel-4 will be made freely available through the EU’s Copernicus programme, empowering a broad range of stakeholders—from environmental agencies and scientists to policymakers and emergency responders.
Supporting the Copernicus Mission
The launch of Sentinel-4 marks a strategic milestone for the Copernicus Earth observation programme. It directly supports Copernicus’ mission to offer reliable, timely, and actionable environmental data to address pressing challenges such as air pollution, climate change, and disaster management.
A second Sentinel-4 instrument is currently under integration and is scheduled to fly aboard the MTG-S2 satellite in the 2030s. Both the Sentinel-4 instruments and their MTG host satellites will be operated by EUMETSAT, ensuring the continuous provision of critical atmospheric data.
Airbus has leveraged its legacy from ESA missions such as SCIAMACHY and TROPOMI to develop Sentinel-4, further solidifying its role as a key contributor to Europe’s space-based environmental monitoring capabilities.
