the satellite that monitors the environment thanks to the colors – BBC

Party from Kourou in French Guyana with the rocket Vega

Milan 23 June 2015 to 16 : 03

     
     
 

Sentinel-2A, the European satellite that will tell the health of the Earth through its Color is in orbit in the early hours of June 23 and is preparing for the valuable work that will have to make. The new observatory is the second wind that ESA will launch as part of the Copernicus program dedicated to the recognition of the environment and security aspects. The first launched in April last year was equipped with a radar , this instead is equipped with an optical system with high resolution and then their observations will be integrated showing aspects previously impossible.

Copernicus

Copernicus is the second space program supported by the European Commission after the European Galileo constellation for GPS. “The ability to scan large swathes of territory with low frequencies,” notes Volker Liebig, director of Earth observation programs at Esa, “will see the changes of agricultural crops and the area in general with unprecedented accuracy. This will even evaluate the levels of chlorophyll in plants and to seize other bio-geophysical indicators. ”

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The world as the? Have you ever seen (thanks to satellites)

 

The colors of the Earth

The satellite, weighing 1 , 1 tons, will run for seven years on a polar orbit at 780 kilometers from the ground where he can see over the entire planet. On board the observation instrument is equipped with thirteen from the visible to infrared spectral channels comprising generating multi-spectral images, high resolution (10 meters) with a scan of 290 kilometers. The new colors will be obtained valuable data that safeguard the Earth. Among the objectives are the mapping of forests and gathering information on the various types of pollutants that attack the lands and the coasts of the continents. It will monitor also volcanic eruptions and can quickly compile maps of the areas affected by natural disasters facilitating rescue operations and recovery. Sentinel 2-A will be operational within three months after the various tests, while the next Sentinel constellation will fly in 2016.

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The fragile beauty of planet Earth

 

Fifth launch with Vega

The new satellite dell ‘ Esa started at 3.52 (Italian time) on 23 June from the spaceport of Kourou in French Guiana on board a rocket-carrier Vega. It is the fifth launch of the new carrier agency built to 65 percent in Italy by Avio in Colleferro coordination with ASI. “Vega with the fifth success,” says Peter Julian Lasagni, CEO of Avio, “has demonstrated exceptional reliability thus entering the world market for pitchers with possibility more attractive because of its versatility.” Air Show at Le Bourget, Avio has presented the new version of the vector, called Vega C, capable of carrying 1,800 kilograms of satellites in space, and 300 more than the current version.

June 23, 2015 | 16:03

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