SENTINEL-1 NEXT GENERATION MISSION ADVISORY GROUP
DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION
24 FEBRUARY 2026 – 17 MARCH 2026 – 12:00 hrs noon (CET)
Submit your application for the Copernicus S1NG Mission here – [OPEN]
In order to submit your application, you need to be a registered user. To register or to log in to the site, please go to the Menu in the top left corner. Note that the last uploaded version of your application file (short CV and accompanying statement) to this Group membership application will replace any previously uploaded file on this system, and will be used by ESA for membership evaluation.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF CALL RESULTS
We shall evaluate all applications in Q1 2026.
COPERNICUS S1NG MISSION OVERVIEW
This call is opened to renew the Mission Advisory Group (MAG) for the Phase B2/C of the Sentinel-1 Next Generation (S1NG) Mission. By participating, MAG members will have the opportunity to actively contribute to the preparation of S1NG.
Members of this group are expected to play an active role by providing expert advice on activities that support the design consolidation and development of the mission, and to participate actively in MAG activities. MAG members will also assist ESA in consolidating and maintaining the Mission Requirements Document (MRD).
In addition, the MAG will advise on the support activities tailored to the preparation of the Mission. These activities include:
- Analysing and verifying the traceability of user needs.
- Supporting the definition and performance estimation studies necessary for consolidating mission requirements or elements of the mission architecture.
- Definition of campaigns to support the development of mission concepts, verify observation and performance requirements, evaluate simulated data products, and assess retrieval methods.
The MAG will serve throughout the duration of Phase B2/C, that will start with the kick-off of the Phase B2 activities and will end with the system Critical Design Review (CDR), after which point membership will be reviewed.
The Sentinel-1 Next Generation Mission
The Sentinel-1 Next Generation (S1NG) mission is a cornerstone of the Copernicus program designed to ensure continuity of the C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) services relying on Sentinel-1 First Generation while introducing enhancements to meet evolving user needs. Building on the success of the first-generation Sentinel-1 satellites, S1NG will maintain or exceed existing standards for imaging performance, revisit frequency, and data latency. This includes guaranteeing seamless operations during the overlap of first and next generation satellites to avoid service disruptions.
S1NG is dedicated to day-and-night monitoring of land, ice and oceans, and responding to Emergency Management services. With respect to the first generation, S1NG will provide enhanced performance improving existing applications, as well as enabling new services, related to: soil moisture, land cover mapping, crop type and status discrimination, forest type and cover (e.g. in support to biomass estimation), food security and precision farming, maritime surveillance, natural and anthropogenic hazards and the operational monitoring of the cryosphere and polar regions including automatic sea ice mapping and land ice monitoring.
The mission will continue systematic global coverage through predefined acquisition plans, supporting critical Copernicus services such as emergency response, maritime surveillance, and geohazard monitoring. Timeliness remains a priority, with near real-time product delivery targets of less than three hours globally and under twenty minutes for maritime awareness services. These requirements are essential for operational services like EMSA and rapid disaster response.
Beyond continuity, S1NG aims to strengthen interferometric capabilities for ground motion and climate monitoring, ensuring long-term data consistency for applications such as the European Ground Motion Service (EGMS). The mission will also serve as a reference SAR infrastructure, enabling future expansion through commercial and national missions and fostering a hybrid constellation approach in line with Copernicus evolution strategies.
The mission is progressing towards Phase B2/C, with procurement activities underway.
USEFUL RESOURCES
