The OHB System AG, a subsidiary of the space and technology group OHB SE, has been contracted by the European Space Agency (ESA) for the mission and system definition of the Next Generation Sentinel-2 mission, and to prepare the following implementation phase. Two parallel contracts of a volume of six million euros each and a nominal duration of 2.5 years have been awarded by ESA for this so-called definition phase.
The two current Sentinel-2 satellites, on-orbit since 2015 and 2017, are already providing valuable services for farming and forestry as well as climate and disaster protection. Their high-resolution, multispectral images in the optical and near-infrared range between 443 and 2190 nanometers observe the condition of soils and plants.
With its 13 channels, the multispectral instrument offers a resolution of up to 10 meters and a wide swath width of 290 kilometers. Sentinel-2 can take an image of an area every five days and is also able to monitor inland and coastal waters.
As the prime contractor for Sentinel-2 Next Generation Phase A/B study, OHB System AG is responsible for developing the design of the mission, platform, and instrument in collaboration with the following partners: ACRI-ST, EREMS, GMV, Politecnico di Torino, SENER, SysDICE, AMOS (Consultant), CSL (Consultant), SCHUNK (Consultant).
“We will enhance this performance significantly. With the next generation, it will be possible to revisit each site every three days with a considerably improved image resolution of up to 5 meters and an even greater spectral accuracy. This will enable farmers, for instance, to plan the cultivation of their fields even better, which will contribute to increased food security. This will be an incredible technological leap forward in every respect and we are honored that ESA is once again relying on our expertise and high level of skills in developing Earth Observation satellites,” said Dr. Stephan Holsten, Head of the Earth Observation Mission & Applications Department at OHB´s Predevelopment.