Mission Overview
Sentinel-3 Next Generation Topography (S3NG-T) ensures the baseline continuity of Copernicus Sentinel-3 radar altimetry measurements for the 2030–2050 timeframe while significantly enhancing measurement performance. The mission addresses the need for improved global-scale altimeter sampling with a target of 5-day revisit at 50 km resolution. S3NG-T will introduce a revolutionary wide-swath altimetry capability alongside traditional nadir-looking SAR altimetry, enabling near-complete ocean coverage every five days. A key innovation is the dedicated hydrology mode for high-resolution monitoring of river stage heights (rivers ≥100 m width) and lakes/reservoirs, with near-real-time data delivery under 6 hours for emergency services. The constellation of two large spacecraft will serve ocean topography, sea-ice and land-ice monitoring, sea-level studies and inland water hydrology.
Key Application Areas
Technical Documents & References
