The European Space Agency's (ESA) Sentinel-5P satellite has arrived in Plesetsk, Russia, ahead of its planned launch on 13 October.

Sentinel-5P is designed to provide daily updates on global maps of air pollutants and is expected to help monitor the quality of air worldwide.

The satellite is a part of ESA’s Copernicus mission and will join five other Sentinel satellites that are already in orbit following its launch.

The Copernicus mission has been developed to offer operational data regarding the world’s land surfaces, oceans and atmosphere to support environmental and security policymaking, as well as serve both citizens and satellite service providers.

ESA Sentinel-5P project manager Kevin McMullan said: “The campaign to launch Sentinel-5P is now well and truly underway, and we are very much looking forward to launch on the 13 October and then making sure the satellite is fully commissioned so that it can start its job of delivering vital information to monitor air pollution.”

"The campaign to launch Sentinel-5P is now well and truly underway, and we are very much looking forward to launch on the 13 October."

Sentinel-5P features a swath width of 2,600km and is equipped with Tropomi instruments that enable it to map a multitude of trace gases, including nitrogen dioxide, ozone, formaldehyde, sulphur dioxide, methane, carbon monoxide and aerosols.

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The satellite will provide information for use in the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service for air-quality forecasts, as well as various decision-making processes.

Airbus Defence and Space served as the prime contractor during the development of the Sentinel-5P system.

Netherlands Space Office was also involved in the satellite's creation.

Image: Unloading Sentinel-5P satellite. Photo: courtesy of ESA.