MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russia's Rokot carrier rocket has carried Europe's Sentinel-5P Earth observation satellite into orbit, the European Space Agency (ESA) said in a statement Friday.
"The first Copernicus mission dedicated to monitoring our atmosphere, Sentinel 5P, has been launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia. The 820 kg satellite was carried into orbit on a Rockot launcher at 09:27 GMT (11:27 CEST) today… After separating from the upper stage, Sentinel-5P deployed its three solar panels and began communications with Earth," the statement said.
"The first signal was received 93 min after launch as the satellite passed over the Kiruna station in Sweden," the ESA said.
Sentinel-5P is one of the six satellites which make up the core of Europe’s Copernicus environmental monitoring network. It is the first Copernicus mission dedicated to monitoring the atmosphere. Sentinel-5P carries the state-of-the-art Tropomi system that will map a multitude of trace gases such as nitrogen dioxide, ozone and others, which affect the climate, the air people breathe and human health. The satellite will also be engaged in volcanic ash monitoring to ensure the safety of air travel.
