ESA's Sentinel satellite to ride converted ICBM

The European Space Agency's (ESA) Sentinel 3-A satellite will soar heavenwards tomorrow from Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia, riding a "Rockot" converted ICBM lifter. Sentinel 3-A will form part of the European Commission’s Copernicus Earth-monitoring programme. From an altitude of 814.5km, the satellite will "measure the temperature, colour and height of the sea surface as well as the thickness of sea ice", and monitor land use and the height of rivers and lakes. More

(Source: The Register - Feb 16)