SpaceX launches an advanced satellite for mapping the oceans into orbit

On Saturday, under clear blue Southern California skies, the 229-foot (70-meter) SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket leapt off the platform from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 9:17 am PST (12:17 pm EST / 1717 GMT), Space.com reports. The rocket was carrying the world’s latest ocean monitoring satellite, the Michael Freilich Sentinel-6 spacecraft. Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich is one of the two identical spacecraft that make up the Sentinel-6 / Jason-CS (Continuity of Service) mission developed in collaboration between NASA and ESA (European Space Agency)

Welcome back, Falcon 9.

Captured by a remote camera during today’s Sentinel-6 launch from @ w00ki33 for Supercluster. pic.twitter.com/rAkwjLnzaz

– Supercluster (@SuperclusterHQ) November 21, 2020

On Saturday, Jason-6A, the first of two identical satellites was sent into orbit on a trajectory that took it south over the Pacific Ocean. Nine minutes after launch, the Falcon’s first stage made a successful landing back to the launch site. About an hour after launch, Jason-6A was released from the Falcon 9’s second stage and soon after, deployed its solar panels and made first contact with controllers, according to CTV News Canada.

Sentinel-6 deployment Michael Freilich confirmed pic.twitter.com/1ZsiSOyeaj

– SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 21, 2020

The $ 97 million Jason-6A will be joined by its sibling, Jason-6B in 2025. The twin satellites will contribute to an ongoing data record of nearly 30 years, following in the footsteps of three previous missions: TOPEX / Poseidon and Jason- 1, Ocean Surface Topography / Jason-2, and Jason-3. The international ocean science satellite was renamed after Earth scientist Dr. Michael H. Freilich. Dr. Freilich was the director of NASA’s Earth Sciences Division for over 12 years, before retiring in February 2019. During his tenure at NASA, Dr. Freilich led the revitalization of the Earth’s fleet of Earth observation research missions. NASA.

Dr. Michael Freilich was a pioneer in the field of Earth Sciences and the first American to have a European satellite bearing his name. I’m glad your family is able to be here as we launch this mission into space. pic.twitter.com/RVp4haYoDN

– Thomas Zurbuchen (@Dr_ThomasZ) November 21, 2020

Dr. Freilich died of cancer in August. Freilich’s family witnessed the launch in person, with son Daniel and daughter Sarah (with Freilich’s granddaughter Rosie) remembering their father after take off. “It means so much to see and hear it,” Daniel Freilich said of seeing the launch on NASA’s live broadcast. “I had heard of hearing it.” Sarah added, “It was gorgeous. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful before.”