NASAs space missions often make us think about important ethical questions, like how to explore space responsibly, making sure we dont harm other planets (planetary protection), and how to design machines that can make decisions on their own. Thinking about these issues helps us consider how to do things the right way, be accountable, and serve the public good.

This article focuses about Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich which aims on Earth (non-Sun-synchronous orbit for altimetry), gathering key information to better understand its current role in ongoing research and spaceflight.

• Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich took off on November 21, 2020, beginning a mission that would expand the boundaries of human understanding.  
• Engineers and scientists have collaborated extensively to meet the missions key objective, which is to Continuity of sea level measurements; ocean altimetry, requiring innovative technological solutions.  
• The decision to go ahead with this Earth observation satellite (ocean altimetry) was made only after thorough safety checks and many practice runs.  
• This mission was one of the notable flights for the distinguished Falcon 9. 
• Vandenberg SFB, SLC-4E served as the launch site for this important space mission. 
• It remained active for Ongoing (55-year prime mission). 
• It was a project spearheaded by ESA, NASA, EUMETSAT, NOAA, CNES. 
• The operation concluded as Operational. 
• Funded by Part of larger program cost; NASA contribution ~$97 million for satellite, NASA’s Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich focused on space technology development and interplanetary research breakthroughs. 

With Poseidon-4 radar altimeter, AMR-C radiometer, DORIS, GNSS-POD, LRA, Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich demonstrates the next generation of smart payloads for exploratory missions.

High-precision radar altimetry for sea level monitoring enabled Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich to perform complex tasks without constant communication with mission control. This comprehensive article on NASA Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich Space mission helps UPSC aspirants understand the full life cycle of a modern space mission which is relevant for GS Paper 2, GS Paper 3, GS Paper 4, and Essay.

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NASA Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich Space Mission Overview 

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Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich Space Mission Global Contributions

The Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich mission saw significant collaboration with ESA, EUMETSAT, NOAA, CNES (French Space Agency) to enhance its scientific reach and technical innovation.

• Contributing to mission success, Significant contributions from European partners on Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich brought new functionality to deep space autonomy. 
• NASA relied on Airbus Defence and Space (built satellite), SpaceX (launch) to supply major components for the spacecraft and launch systems, enhancing mission efficiency. 
• The use of Data shared for operational oceanography and climate science encouraged collaborative validation of autonomous technologies and mission outcomes. 
• Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich exemplified a key milestone in policy evolution by Critical for monitoring sea level rise and ocean circulation, advancing the regulation of autonomous and defense-oriented technologies in space. 

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Challenges & Risk in Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich Space Mission

Despite initial complications stemming from Ensuring data continuity with previous altimetry missions, the mission team behind Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich acted quickly to mitigate the risks, preserving scientific integrity and mission functionality throughout the duration of operations.

• Despite hurdles such as Maintaining long-term altimetry data record accuracy, Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich proceeded as planned with only minor adjustments. 
• The long-term presence or disposal of Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich is summarized by its Operational in Earth orbit, an important aspect of mission planning. 

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Mission Timeline of Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich NASA Space Mission

• A formal proposal detailing the mission objectives was submitted on Mid-2010s (as Jason-CS). 
• The date Not applicable represented a pivotal moment as the mission entered its most critical phase. 
• With the end of the primary mission on ~Mid-2026 (Planned end of prime mission), scientists began analyzing the extensive data gathered during the mission. 

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UPSC Relevance of Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich

• UPSC Prelims often includes questions related to NASA missions, highlighting the intersection of space science, technology, and international developments.
• General Studies Paper 3 includes NASA space missions under science and technology, especially focusing on innovations in space exploration and their global impact.
• UPSC IAS Exam GS Paper 4 may explore ethical implications of using autonomous technologies in space, with NASA missions serving as real-world examples to examine boundaries of human-machine decision-making.
• The societal, ethical, and scientific dimensions of NASA’s work, including planetary protection and interplanetary travel, are pertinent to Anthropology, Philosophy, and Geography optional papers, helping illustrate human response to unknown frontiers.

Also, Learn about International Space Station (ISS)

Past UPCS Mains PYQs on NASA Space Missions

Q1. Launched on 25th December 2021, the James Webb Space Telescope has been much in the news since then. What are its unique features which make it superior to its predecessor space telescopes? What are the key goals of this mission? What potential benefits does it hold for the human race? (2022, GS Paper 3) 

Q2. How does the Juno Mission of NASA help to understand the origin and evolution of the Earth? (2017, GS Paper 1)

Q3. The safe landing of the ‘Curiosity’ Rover under NASA’s space programme has sparked many possibilities. What are those and how could humankind benefit from them? (2012, GS Paper 2)

Past UPCS Prelims PYQs on NASA Space Missions

Q1 [2022]: Which one of the following statements best reflects the idea behind the “Fractional Orbital Bombardment System” often talked about in the media?

(a) A hypersonic missile is launched into space to counter the asteroid approaching the Earth and explode it in space.

(b) A spacecraft lands on another planet after making several orbital motions.

(c) A missile is put into a stable orbit around the Earth and deorbits over a target on the Earth.

(d) A spacecraft moves along a comet with the same speed and places a probe on its surface.

Answer: (c) A missile is put into a stable orbit around the Earth and deorbits over a target on the Earth.

Explanation: While this question pertains to a military concept, NASAs research into orbital mechanics and space trajectories contributes to the broader understanding of such technologies.

Q2 [2020]: “The experiment will employ a trio of spacecraft flying in formation in the shape of an equilateral triangle that has sides one million kilometres long, with lasers shining between the craft.” The experiment in question refers to:

(a) Voyager-2

(b) New Horizons

(c) Lisa Pathfinder

(d) Evolved LISA

Answer: (d) Evolved LISA

Explanation: Evolved LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) is a space-based gravitational wave observatory developed by ESA with contributions from NASA.

Q3 [2017]: What is the purpose of ‘evolved Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (eLISA)’ project?

(a) To detect neutrinos

(b) To detect gravitational waves

(c) To detect the effectiveness of missile defence system

(d) To study the effect of solar flares on our communication systems

Answer: (b) To detect gravitational waves

Explanation: Evolved Laser Space Interferometer Space Antenna (ELISA) project was widely in the news due to the discovery of gravitational waves by the LIGO detector and the subsequent success of the LISA pathfinder project. The European Space Agency is leading the ELISA mission. The project is initiated to detect and accurately measure gravitational waves.

Q4 [2016]: What is ‘Greased Lightning-10 (GL-10)’, recently in the news?

(a) Electric plane tested by NASA

(b) Solar-powered two-seater aircraft designed by Japan

(c) Space observatory launched by China

(d) Reusable rocket designed by ISRO

Answer: (a) Electric plane tested by NASA
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Explanation: GL-10 is a remotely piloted plane similar to an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). It is designed and developed in such a way that it can take off like a helicopter and fly like an airplane. It is a battery-powered 10-engine with a wingspan of 3.05 meters. Eight electric motors are mounted on the wings. 2 electric motors are mounted on the tail. It weighs a maximum of 28.1 kilograms at takeoff. Due to its versatile vertical takeoff and landing ability, it produces less noise. It can be used as a UAV for small package delivery or vertical takeoff and landing, as well as long-endurance surveillance for agriculture, mapping, and other applications. Its modified scaled-up version can be used as a persons air vehicle.

Q5 [2015]: The term ‘Goldilocks Zone’ is often seen in the news in the context of:

(a) The limits of habitable zone above the surface of the Earth

(b) Regions inside the Earth where shale gas is available

(c) Search for the Earth-like planets in outer space

(d) Search for meteorites containing precious metals

Answer: (c) Search for the Earth-like planets in outer space

Explanation: The Goldilocks Zone is the livable zone around a star where the temperature is not too hot and not too cold for liquid water to exist on a planet. It is a metaphor for the childrens story Goldilocks and the Three Bears, in which a young girl selects from sets of three objects, eschewing the extremes (such as those that are enormous or small, hot or cold) and fixing on the one that is just right in the middle. The Goldilocks zone of the Sun surrounds the Earth. All of Earths water would freeze if it were found where the dwarf planet Pluto is; however, all of Earths water would boil out if it were found where Mercury is.

Also, Get to Know What was NASA's Parker Solar Probe Mission

UPSC Practice Questions on NASA Space Missions

Q1. Cygnus spacecraft launched by NASA is seen recently in the context of
1. It uses solar power to enter into its desired orbit
2. It provides real-time portal for Mars exploration
3. It carry ingredients for experiments to grow plants without soil
4. It has been send to destroy targeted space debris

Answer: 3
Solution: NASA informed that supplies inside Cygnus spacecraft carry ingredients for experiments to grow plants without soil. Hence, option 3 is correct. Cygnus spacecraft, which is carrying a fresh supply of 8300 pounds of scientific investigations and cargo, has reached International Space Station on 21 February 2022, less than two days after it was launched.

Q2. Which of the following is the name of the NASA programme to land first woman and next man on the Moon by 2024?
1. Orion
2. Apollo
3. Artemis
4. Nike

Answer: 3
Solution: Artemis is an ongoing space mission run by NASA with the goal of landing the first female astronaut and next male astronaut on the Moon's South Pole by 2024. It is the US space agency's first crewed Moon mission since Apollo 17 in 1972. NASA is working on the Artemis program that aims to land humans on the moon by 2024.

Q3. On 7 September 2021, NASA announced that the Perseverance rover has completed the collection of the first sample of _______ Mars.
1. soil
2. dust
3. rock
4. snow

Answer: 3
Solution: The Perseverance rover has collected 11 scientifically compelling rock core samples and one atmospheric sample. A core from Jezero Crater is slightly thicker than a pencil.

Q4. To study which one of the following was a spacecraft launched that would be farthest from the Sun and would run exclusively on solar power?
1. Jupiter's Trojan asteroids
2. Saturn's rings and moons
3. Mars' atmosphere
4. Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud

Answer: 1
Solution: Lucy is NASA's newly launched spacecraft, the US space agency's first-ever mission to explore distant asteroids and seek out the origin of our solar system. Lucy is the first space mission to study Jupiter's Trojan asteroids and would run exclusively on solar power.

Q5. Consider the following statements
1. The NewSpace India Limited is the commercial arm of the Department of Space
2. Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Center (IN-SPACe) will facilitate the participation of private sector
Which of the above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: 3
Solution: The new Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Center (IN-SPACe), which is expected to be functional within six months, will assess the needs and demands of private players, including educational and research institutions, and explore ways to accommodate these requirements in consultation with ISRO. Existing ISRO infrastructure, both ground- and space-based, scientific and technical resources, and even data are planned to be made accessible to interested parties to enable them to carry out their space-related activities.

Q6. Hayabusa-2 space mission belongs to which space agency?
1. JAXA
2. NASA
3. C. N. S. A
4. ISRO

Answer: 1
Solution: The Hayabusa-2 space mission belongs to JAXA space agency. In December 2014, JAXA launched Hayabusa-2 to collect samples from Ryugu. Hayabusa-2 is a Japanese spacecraft that studied the asteroid Ryugu, took samples, and returned them to Earth for analysis.

Q7. According to ISRO, the X-ray spectrometer CLASS of the ______________ Orbiter has mapped an abundance of sodium on the moon for the first time in October 2022.
1. Chandrayaan-2
2. ASTROSAT
3. NISAR
4. Mangalyaan

Answer: 1
Solution: The X-ray spectrometer CLASS on the Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter has mapped an abundance of sodium on the moon for the first time, according to ISRO. The findings of the spectrometer were published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters in the last week of Sept 2022.

Q8. Where will NASA send its next-generation atomic clock in 2019?
1. Mars
2. Moon
3. North Pole
4. Space

Answer: 4
Solution: NASA's Deep Space Atomic Clock Mission has been pushing the timekeeping frontiers in space, hence the correct answer is option 4.

Q9. OneWeb will launch 36 satellites with which organization for low-orbit connectivity?
1. NASA
2. ISRO
3. ROSCOSMOS
4. CNSA

Answer: 2
Solution: OneWeb, the Low Earth orbit satellite company, will launch 36 satellites with Indian Space Research Organisation ISRO on 26 March 2023. The launch aims at completing the first-generation LEO constellation and enabling the initiation of global coverage in 2023.

Q10. Consider the following statements regarding the Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution TEMPO mission:
1. It is a joint venture mission launched by NASA and the European space agency.
2. It will measure the pollution level across the world measuring levels of ozone, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, and formaldehyde levels.
3. It is placed in the earth's Geostationary orbit.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. 1 and 3 only
2. 3 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: 2
Solution: The Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution TEMPO mission is the first funded project of NASA's Earth Venture Instrument program, which includes small, targeted science investigations designed to complement NASA's larger research missions. It will measure atmospheric pollution covering most of North America, from Mexico City to the Canadian tar/oil sands, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific hourly and at high spatial resolution. The present pollution-monitoring satellites are in low Earth orbit, but this new monitoring instrument is hosted in geostationary orbit.

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