Watch Earth Recede as the Sentinal-1A Satellite Blasts Into Space

When the Sentinel-1A satellite blasted into space from the European Space Agency's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana last week, it brought along a video camera.

Launched by the Soyuz Fregat rocket, the Sentinel-1A carries an advanced radar that scours Earth's surface, 24 hours a day, in all kinds of weather conditions, according to the European Space Agency's website. The satellite's mission is to help find and track oil spills, measure changing sea levels, monitor the decline of sea ice and more.

Released on Tuesday, the following video captures nearly four minutes of footage from takeoff to separation: Read more...