The final solar wing deployment test marks the end of a six-month programme at IABG in Germany to make sure the satellite can withstand the shocks and vibrations during liftoff and that it is fit for a long working life in the harsh environment of space. The next step is to pack up the satellite in its container and ship it to Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana for launch, which is scheduled for 12 June 2015.
Offering ‘colour vision’ for the European Commission’s environmental monitoring Copernicus programme, Sentinel-2A combines high-resolution and novel multispectral capabilities – a first for ESA.