NASA Sets Launch Coverage for International Ocean Tracking Mission
NASA is gearing up for the launch of Sentinel-6B, an essential satellite mission aimed at enhancing our understanding of ocean dynamics and sea level changes. Scheduled for liftoff at 12:21 a.m. EST on November 17, 2023, from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, Sentinel-6B will join its twin, Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, which was launched in November 2020. This mission is part of the Copernicus Sentinel-6/Jason-CS initiative, a collaborative effort involving NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), EUMETSAT, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Together, these satellites will provide critical data that supports coastal infrastructure protection, weather forecasting, and maritime commercial activities, extending the global sea level dataset to nearly four decades.
Prior to the launch, NASA will offer comprehensive live coverage of the prelaunch and launch activities, starting at 11:30 p.m. EST on November 16. Viewers can tune in via various platforms, including NASA+, Amazon Prime, and social media channels. The prelaunch teleconference on November 15 will feature key figures from NASA and ESA discussing the significance of the mission and its technological innovations. The Sentinel-6B satellite is equipped with advanced radar technology to deliver precise measurements of sea level and ocean conditions, which are vital for understanding climate change impacts and planning for future sea-level rise. This mission not only marks a significant advancement in Earth observation but also represents a milestone in international cooperation for environmental monitoring.
As the global community faces the challenges of climate change and rising sea levels, the data collected by Sentinel-6B will be invaluable for researchers, policymakers, and industries reliant on accurate oceanographic information. The mission is a testament to the ongoing commitment of NASA and its partners to enhance our understanding of Earth’s systems and to promote the sustainable management of ocean resources. For those interested in following the mission, NASA encourages public engagement through its virtual guest program, which offers curated resources and updates, fostering a sense of connection to this groundbreaking endeavor.
In this artist’s concept, the ocean-observing satellite Sentinel-6B orbits Earth with its deployable solar panels extended.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
NASA will provide live coverage of prelaunch and launch activities for Sentinel-6B, an international mission delivering critical sea level and ocean data to protect coastal infrastructure, improve weather forecasting, and support commercial activities at sea.
Launch is targeted at 12:21 a.m. EST, Monday, Nov. 17 (9:21 p.m. PST, Sunday, Nov. 16) aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
Watch coverage beginning at 11:30 p.m. EST (8:30 p.m. PST) on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and more. Learn how to
watch NASA content
through a variety of platforms, including social media.
The Sentinel-6B mission continues a decades-long effort to monitor global sea level and ocean conditions using precise radar measurements from space. Since the early 1990s, satellites launched by NASA and domestic and international partners have collected precise sea level data. The launch of Sentinel-6B will extend this dataset out to nearly four decades.
NASA’s mission coverage is as follows (all times Eastern and subject to change based on real-time operations):
Saturday, Nov. 15
4 p.m. – NASA Prelaunch Teleconference on International Ocean Tracking Mission
Karen St. Germain, director, Earth Science Division, NASA Headquarters in Washington
Pierrik Veuilleumier, Sentinel-6B project manager, ESA (European Space Agency)
Parag Vaze, Sentinel-6B project manager, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California
Tim Dunn, senior launch director, Launch Services Program, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida
Julianna Scheiman, director, NASA Science Missions, SpaceX
1st Lt. William Harbin, launch weather officer, U.S. Air Force
Audio of the teleconference will stream on the
NASA Video YouTube channel
.
Media interested in participating by phone must RSVP no later than two hours prior to the start of the call at:
ksc-newsroom@mail.nasa.gov
. A copy of NASA’s
media accreditation policy
is online.
Sunday Nov. 16
11:30 p.m. – Launch coverage begins on
NASA+
,
Amazon Prime
, and more.
Audio-only coverage
Audio-only of the launch coverage will be carried on the NASA “V” circuits, which may be accessed by dialing 321-867-1220 or -1240. On launch day, “mission audio” countdown activities without NASA+ launch commentary will be carried at 321-867-7135.
NASA website launch coverage
Launch day coverage of the mission will be available on the
agency’s website
. Coverage will include links to live streaming and blog updates beginning no earlier than 11 p.m. EST, Nov. 16, as the countdown milestones occur. Streaming video and photos of the launch will be accessible on demand shortly after liftoff. Follow countdown coverage on NASA’s
Sentinel-6/Jason-CS blog
.
For questions about countdown coverage, contact the NASA Kennedy newsroom at: 321-867-2468.
Attend launch virtually
Members of the public
can register
to attend this launch virtually. NASA’s
virtual guest program
for this mission includes curated launch resources, notifications about related opportunities or changes, and a stamp for the NASA virtual guest passport following launch.
Watch, engage on social media
Let people know you’re watching the mission on X, Facebook, and Instagram by following and tagging these accounts:
X:
@NASA,
@NASAKennedy
,
@NASAJPL
,
@NASAEarth
Facebook:
NASA
,
NASA Kennedy
,
NASA JPL
,
NASA Earth
Instagram:
@NASA
,
@NASAKennedy
,
@NASAJPL
,
@NASAEarth
Sentinel-6B is the second of twin satellites in the Copernicus Sentinel-6/Jason-CS (Continuity of Service) mission, a collaboration among NASA, ESA, EUMETSAT (European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The first satellite in the mission,
Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich
, launched in November 2020. The European Commission contributed funding support, while France’s space agency CNES (Centre National d’Études Spatiales) provided technical expertise. The mission also marks the first international involvement in Copernicus, the European Union’s Earth Observation Programme.
For more information about these missions, visit:
-end-
Elizabeth Vlock
NASA Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
elizabeth.a.vlock@nasa.gov
Leejay Lockhart
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-747-8310
leejay.lockhart@nasa.gov
Andrew Wang / Andrew Good
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
626-379-6874 / 818-393-2433
andrew.wang@jpl.nasa.gov
/
andrew.c.good@jpl.nasa.gov
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Last Updated
Nov 14, 2025
Location
NASA Headquarters
Related Terms
Sentinel-6B
Earth
Earth Science
Earth Science Division
Jason-CS (Continuity of Service) / Sentinel-6
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Kennedy Space Center
NASA Headquarters
Oceans
Science & Research
Science Mission Directorate
Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich Satellite
