Sentinel-6B

Mission

Sentinel-6B on Falcon 9 Block 5. Mon 17 Nov 2025, 05:21:42 UTC. Reported outcome: Success. Launch site: Space Launch Complex 4E. Source: Launch Library 2.

The Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich (launched November 2020) and Sentinel-6B make up the Sentinel-6 mission, also known as Jason Continuity of Service (Jason-CS), which is a partnership between NASA, NOAA, ESA, and EUMETSAT. This mission continues the long-term global sea surface height data record begun by first Jason satellites in 1992.

Mission type

Earth Science

Orbit

Low Earth Orbit

Programmes: Copernicus

Rocket file imagery

Launch timeline

Times are relative to liftoff.

1. T-38 minMon 17 Nov, 05:43 CET

   GO for Prop Load

   Launch director verifies go for propellant load

2. T-35 minMon 17 Nov, 05:46 CET

   Stage 1 LOX Load

   Start of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage

3. T-35 minMon 17 Nov, 05:46 CET

   Prop Load

   Start of propelland loading

4. T-16 minMon 17 Nov, 06:05 CET

   Stage 2 LOX Load

   Start of liquid oxygen loading in the second stage

5. T-7 minMon 17 Nov, 06:14 CET

   Engine Chill

   Start of engine chilling

6. T-1 minMon 17 Nov, 06:20 CET

   Startup

   The onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks

7. T-1 minMon 17 Nov, 06:20 CET

   Tank Press

   Fuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels

8. T-45 sMon 17 Nov, 06:20 CET

   GO for Launch

   Launch director verifies go for launch

9. T-3 sMon 17 Nov, 06:21 CET

   Ignition

   Start of the engine ignition sequence

10. T-0Mon 17 Nov, 06:21 CET

    Liftoff

    First upwards movement of the rocket

11. T+1 min 12 sMon 17 Nov, 06:22 CET

    Max-Q

    Maximum dynamic pressure

12. T+2 min 13 sMon 17 Nov, 06:23 CET

    MECO

    Cut-off of the main engine

13. T+2 min 17 sMon 17 Nov, 06:23 CET

    Stage 2 Separation

    Separation of the second stage from the first

14. T+2 min 25 sMon 17 Nov, 06:24 CET

    SES-1

    First start of the second engine

15. T+2 min 30 sMon 17 Nov, 06:24 CET

    Booster Boostback Burn Startup

    Start of the booster boostback burn

16. T+2 min 48 sMon 17 Nov, 06:24 CET

    Fairing Separation

    Separation of the payload fairing

17. T+3 min 18 sMon 17 Nov, 06:25 CET

    Booster Boostback Burn Shutdown

    End of the booster boostback burn

18. T+7 min 22 sMon 17 Nov, 06:29 CET

    Entry Burn Startup

    Start of the atmospheric entry burn

19. T+7 min 48 sMon 17 Nov, 06:29 CET

    Entry Burn Shutdown

    End of the atmospheric entry burn

20. T+8 min 18 sMon 17 Nov, 06:30 CET

    SECO-1

    First cut-off of the second engine

21. T+8 min 42 sMon 17 Nov, 06:30 CET

    Stage 1 Landing Burn

    Start of the first stage landing burn

22. T+9 min 11 sMon 17 Nov, 06:30 CET

    Stage 1 Landing

    Landing of the first stage

23. T+52 min 2 sMon 17 Nov, 07:13 CET

    SES-2

    Second start of the second engine

24. T+52 min 12 sMon 17 Nov, 07:13 CET

    SECO-2

    Second cut-off of the second engine

25. T+57 min 13 sMon 17 Nov, 07:18 CET

    Payload Separation

    Final deployment of the payload from the rocket

Slip history

Changes recorded by Space Right Now

No changes since we started tracking on Sat 10 Oct 2026, 11:17 UTC.

Launch pad

Space Launch Complex 4E

Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA (US)

Coordinates: 34.632, -120.611