NASA's Sentinel-6B Mission to Monitor Global Sea Levels

NASA's Sentinel-6B mission is set to launch no earlier than November 16, marking the continuation of a critical effort to monitor global sea levels and provide vital data on climate change impacts. This mission builds upon a decades-long record of sea level measurements that began in 1992, with the data being essential for decision-makers in managing coastal flooding, improving hurricane intensity forecasts, and safeguarding infrastructure.

According to NASA, Sentinel-6B will deliver data covering about 90% of Earth's oceans, which is crucial for public safety, city planning, and supporting various commercial activities. Sentinel-6B is the second satellite in the Copernicus Sentinel-6/Jason-CS mission, a collaboration involving NASA, the European Space Agency, EUMETSAT, and NOAA, with funding support from the European Commission and technical expertise from France's CNES.

The satellite will begin cross-calibration with its predecessor, Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, upon launch. This mission will not only provide an extensive dataset on sea surface height but will also enhance our understanding of ocean dynamics, aiding navigation and disaster response.

Notably, the data from Sentinel-6B will contribute to improving weather prediction models, which are vital for commercial and recreational navigation, as well as hurricane forecasts. This is particularly significant as accurate forecasting can enhance disaster preparedness and response strategies.

Additionally, the mission plays a role in national security by helping protect coastal military installations from flooding and providing critical atmospheric and oceanic data. Sea level rise, which varies by region, poses significant risks to many coastal areas where nearly half of the world's population resides.

The data obtained from Sentinel-6B will inform land-use planning and adaptation strategies to mitigate these risks. With the launch scheduled for 12:21 a.m. EST on November 17 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, NASA is also providing extensive coverage of the launch event.

This includes prelaunch activities and live streaming on various platforms such as NASA+, Amazon Prime, and social media. The collaboration behind the Sentinel-6B mission exemplifies the pooling of international expertise and resources to achieve shared environmental goals, ultimately aiming to provide high-impact data that benefits both government and industry stakeholders.

As we approach the launch date, the international scientific community eagerly anticipates the contributions of Sentinel-6B towards understanding and addressing the challenges posed by climate change and rising sea levels.