Copernicus Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich undergoes rigorous testing
Once the state-of-the-art Copernicus Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite launches in November, it will collect the most accurate data yet on sea level — a key indicator of how Earth's warming climate is affecting the oceans, weather and coastlines.
Last Updated
28 September 2020
Published on
15 June 2020
But first, engineers need to ensure that the spacecraft can survive the rigours of launch and of operating in the harsh environment of space. That's where meticulous testing comes in.
At the end of May, engineers finished putting the spacecraft – which is being built in Germany – through a battery of four tests that began in November 2019.
"If it can survive all the abuse we deliberately put it through on the ground, then it's ready for space," said John Oswald, the mission's deputy project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.
Read the full feature article on NASA’s website.
