The Copernicus Space Component (CSC) has been established as one of the largest and most proficient Earth Observation infrastructures in the world with seven high-performance satellites at present in full operation.
In order to preserve the momentum in fulfilling user needs, the CSC evolution is being based on two pillars: stability and continuity as emerged from the user consultation process. They are particularly addressed in the considerations for the Next Generation of the current Sentinels providing enhanced continuity of initial observations, and the emerging and urgent needs for new types of observations addressed in the considerations for the Sentinel fleet expansion to the High Priority Candidate Missions (HPCM). Therefore, the development of the Sentinel-1 Next Generation (Sentinel 1NG) Space Component, providing enhanced continuity of initial first generation observations, is the response to the evolving user needs expressed in the user consultation process done by the EC.
The Sentinel-1 Next Generation Phases B2/C/D/E1, subject of this Procurement will guarantee the continuity from the first generation, therefore, dedicated to day-and-night monitoring of land, ice and oceans, and responding to Emergency Management services. With respect to the first generation, the Next Generation will provide enhanced performance and so improving the servicing to the existing applications, as well as enabling new services, related to: soil moisture, land cover mapping, crop type and status discrimination, forest type and forest cover (e.g. in support to biomass estimation), food security and precision farming, maritime surveillance, natural and anthropogenic hazards and the operational monitoring of the Cryosphere and polar regions including automatic sea ice mapping and land ice monitoring.
The Payload will be based on a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) in C-Band and will also have an Automatic Identification System (AIS) instrument in support to the achievement of mission maritime objectives by augmenting the SAR payload data for ship marine traffic applications.
The Sentinel-1 Next Generation procurement comprises the development of an improved Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imaging in C-Band and an Automatic Identification System (AIS) instrument, and their embarkation onboard and Manufacturing, Assembly, Integration and Test of the Spacecraft. It also includes all the activities necessary for potential embarkation of a Laser Communication Terminal (LCT) for payload data downlink via inter-satellite laser-link.
The following contractual mandatory options apply:
1. The Phase E1 of the first Spacecraft (i.e. PFM),
2. The manufacturing, assembly, integration and test (MAIT) of the recurrent spacecraft Flight Model (FM2) up to the confirmation of acceptance by the Agency, achieved at the corresponding Flight Acceptance Review (FAR); and
3. The development and delivery of the Spacecraft Simulator for Flight Operations.
