Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich

The Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite is a collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Commission, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), NASA and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).  Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich was named in honor of the late Dr. Michael Freilich, who was instrumental in advancing ocean altimetry while leading NASA’s Earth Science Division.
Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich is a “game changer” because it will ensure continuity of sea level observations for at least a decade. Like their predecessors, these satellites will provide ongoing measurements of global sea level rise – one of the most important impacts of human-caused climate change. The data will also support operational oceanography, improving forecasts of ocean currents as well as wind and wave conditions. In addition, it will help to improve forecasts of weather conditions likely to prevail two to four weeks ahead (e.g., hurricane intensity forecasting). Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich will also aid weather prediction through a new experiment: Global Navigation Satellite System Radio Occultation (GNSS-RO). Watching GNSS satellites as they disappear over the horizon will provide detailed information about the layers in the atmosphere. This information will contribute to computer models that predict the weather and enhance forecasting capabilities.
More Information About Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich
How Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich Works

Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich Interactive Print-outs
Mission Poster
Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich Collector Cards (online print-out)
Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich Spacecraft Paper Model Cut-out
Dr. Michael Freilich Poster
Kids Coloring Sheets

Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite
Launch Date: November 21, 2020
Launch Site: Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA
Launch Vehicle: SpaceX Falcon 9