Sentinel-3
 | |||
| Manufacturer | Thales Alenia Space | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Country of origin |  European Union | ||
| Operator | EUMETSAT | ||
| Applications | Earth observation | ||
| Specifications | |||
| Spacecraft type | Satellite | ||
| Bus | Prima | ||
| Series | 2 | ||
| Launch mass | 1,250 kg (2,756 lb) | ||
| Dimensions | 3.710 × 2.202 × 2.207 m (12.2 × 7.2 × 7.2 ft) | ||
| Power | 2,100 W | ||
| Regime | Sun-synchronous low Earth polar orbit | ||
| Orbital period | 100.987 min | ||
| Revisit period | 27 days | ||
| Design life | 7 years | ||
| Production | |||
| Status | Active | ||
| On order | 2 | ||
| Built | 3 | ||
| Launched | 2 | ||
| Operational | 2 | ||
| Maiden launch | Sentinel-3A 16 February 2016 | ||
| Last launch | Sentinel-3C 15 September 2026 | ||
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Sentinel-3 is an Earth observation heavy satellite series developed by the European Space Agency as part of the Copernicus Programme. It consists of 3 satellites: Sentinel-3A, Sentinel-3B, and Sentinel-3C. Sentinel-3D will follow in 2028 to ensure continuity of the Sentinel-3 mission. Each Sentinel-3 satellite is designed to operate for seven years in a sun-synchronous low Earth polar orbit. The satellites use multiple sensors to measure topography, temperature, marine ecosystems, water quality, pollution, and other features for ocean forecasting and environmental monitoring.