Copernicus: behind the scenes of the largest Earth observation programme

The Sentinel missions: an expanding constellation

Recent launches that strengthen coverage

2025 was a particularly active year for Copernicus. Sentinel-1D, launched on 4 November 2025 from Kourou aboard Ariane 6, acquired its first radar images a few days later, on 7 November[reference:0]. This 2,184 kg satellite is dedicated to radar observation of the Earth and restores the Sentinel-1 constellation after the launch of Sentinel-1C in 2024[reference:1]. Sentinel-5A, launched on 13 August 2025, began delivering its first atmospheric measurements on 13 October, including formaldehyde and ozone maps[reference:2].

In 2026, Sentinel-3C took over. Launched on 14 September 2026 from Kourou by a Vega-C rocket, it returned its first images and measurements of the Earth only two weeks later[reference:3]. Notably, the European Commission approved an unprecedented three-satellite configuration (Sentinel-3A, -3B and -3C) operating simultaneously, in order to increase the frequency of observations of the oceans, land and atmosphere[reference:4]. This decision illustrates the maturity of the programme and the confidence placed in data continuity.

Table of recent Sentinel missions

The table below summarises the main Sentinel missions launched or entering service between 2025 and 2026, with their preferred observation domains.

Sentinel-1 NG: the next generation of radars

An industrial contract worth 345 million euros

The successor is already being prepared. In June 2026, Airbus awarded Thales Alenia Space a contract worth 345 million euros for the development and production of two C-band radar instruments for the Sentinel-1 NG (Next Generation) constellation[reference:5]. This contract is part of an overall envelope of 700 million euros for the first two satellites of the series[reference:6].

The new SAR radars will offer significantly higher performance than the current generation: a swath of 400 km compared with 250 km, a geometric resolution improved by a factor of four (5 m × 5 m compared with 5 m × 20 m), and coverage extended to the polar regions thanks to MAPS technology[reference:7]. The first launch is planned for around 2034, with service continuity ensured until the 2040s[reference:8].

The data deluge: volumes and infrastructure

From terabytes to petabytes

Copernicus produces several terabytes of open data every day, and some satellites such as Sentinel-2 observe the entire land surface every five days at a resolution of 10 metres[reference:9][reference:10]. The CDSE, the main access platform, has crossed a symbolic milestone: in 2025, more than 242 petabytes of data were delivered, and direct Sentinel downloads exceeded 100 petabytes for the first time[reference:11].

The platform holds approximately 91 petabytes of online data and more than 120 million Sentinel products archived[reference:12]. It recorded 542,622 registered users at the end of 2025, including more than 250,000 new arrivals during the year[reference:13]. These figures reflect massive adoption, well beyond the scientific community.

Table of data volumes (2025)

The table below summarises the main volume and usage indicators of the CDSE for the year 2025.

Concrete applications on the ground

Emergencies, agriculture and climate

The Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) provides rapid risk mapping and early warning systems for floods, forest fires and droughts on a global scale[reference:14]. The Global Flood Awareness System can anticipate floods up to 30 days in advance, while the Global Drought Observatory monitors agricultural impacts[reference:15].

In agriculture, Sentinel-2 data enable farmers to monitor soil moisture, crop growth and weather conditions, thereby optimising yields and reducing water consumption[reference:16]. For climate, Copernicus plays a growing role in verifying commitments under the Paris Agreement and monitoring the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals[reference:17].

Sovereignty and the future of the programme

A European infrastructure

The CDSE is not just a data catalogue: it is a cloud-native processing platform operated by a European consortium (T-Systems, CloudFerro, Sinergise, VITO, DLR, ACRI-st, RHEA Group) under the leadership of ESA[reference:18]. The infrastructure runs on European soil, operated by European companies, making it a concrete example of data sovereignty[reference:19].

This strategic dimension is increasingly affirmed. The Council of the European Union reiterated in 2025 that Copernicus is a civil, operational and EU-guided programme, based on an open data access policy[reference:20]. At a time when geospatial artificial intelligence is developing, control of an authoritative data archive is becoming an asset as important as computing power[reference:21].

Key takeaways

Copernicus is no longer a technological gamble: it is an operational reality. Sentinel satellites are multiplying, data volumes are growing exponentially and applications touch fields as varied as agriculture, civil security and climate diplomacy. Behind this success lies an integrated European value chain, from radar engineering to the provision of open data.

Many challenges remain: maintaining mission continuity, absorbing ever-larger volumes, guaranteeing equitable access and preserving sovereignty in the face of non-European actors. But one thing is certain: Copernicus has already changed the way Europe observes, understands and protects its planet. Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543) moved the Earth from the centre of the Universe; the programme bearing his name now places the Earth at the centre of our concerns.