Copernicus Sentinel vs ISS Explorer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Copernicus Sentinel
Explore and track Earth observation satellites in real-time. Discover satellite details, view 3D models, and receive notifications for overhead passes. Stay updated on the latest news and products from this space observation program.
- Real-time satellite tracking
- Detailed 3D satellite models
- Overhead pass notifications
- Latest news and product updates
- Historical data transmission visualization
- Interactive 3D globe exploration
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The Sentinel App is a gateway to knowing the Copernicus Sentinel satellites. It lets users track the satellites in real-time, discover their key elements, read the latest news and learn more about their products. Users can, among other things, explore detailed 3D models of the satellites, see the last and next time they have been and will be over the user's location, move the satellites to the time of the last data transmission and smoothly move them back to their current location over the 3D globe. Notifications can also be set to be warned when the satellites are flying by. ESA is developing a series of next-generation Earth observation missions, on behalf of the joint ESA/European Commission initiative Copernicus (previously GMES - Global Monitoring for Environment and Security). The goal of the program is to replace current and older Earth observation missions, such as ERS and Envisat, which have reached or are close to reaching the end of their operational life span. This will ensure a continuity of data so that there are no gaps in ongoing studies. Each mission will focus on a different aspect of Earth observation, such as Atmospheric, Oceanic or Land monitoring, and the data will be of use in many applications.
ISS Explorer
Explore a detailed 3D model of the International Space Station. Rotate, zoom, and select individual components to learn about their function and systems. Organize your view by turning parts and labels on or off.
- Interactive 3D ISS model
- Rotate and zoom functionality
- Selectable parts with isolation
- Detailed information on components
- Hierarchical part organization
- Toggle parts and labels
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The ISS explorer is an interactive tool for exploring the parts and pieces of the International Space Station (ISS). The application allows the user to view a 3D model of the ISS, rotate it, zoom into it, and select different parts and pieces. When the application starts, you can see a view of the entire ISS with category labels. Tabs are available on the left hand side of the screen which allow you access to information, the hierarchy, settings and application information. From this point, you can zoom into the station, revealing more labels of visible parts. The station can also be rotated to view from different angles. If a part is selected, the part is isolated so that you can focus on the specific piece. The information tab shows information about the currently isolated part. Inside the hierarchy tab, you can turn parts on or off, turn labels for parts on or off, turn parts transparent, or select a part to focus on. The parts are organized in a hierarchy to allow for systems to be described and displayed. This includes things such as truss, modules, and external platforms. The Information tab shows information about the current isolated part, system, or the full ISS if the entire station is shown.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: ISS Explorer at 100% against Copernicus Sentinel's 14%. ISS Explorer also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.3). Copernicus Sentinel's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 10 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
ISS Explorer holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 18 and 16 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 14% of Copernicus Sentinel's written reviews are positive against 100% of ISS Explorer's.
Copernicus Sentinel ships an update every 2 months, ISS Explorer every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on September 14, 2026 and September 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Copernicus Sentinel | ISS Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (18 ratings) | 4.9 (16 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 14.3% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 18 — better | 16 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 10 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 56 MB | 747 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ESA - European Space Agency | NASA |
Customer experience
Copernicus Sentinel
ISS Explorer
In-app purchases
Copernicus Sentinel
No in-app purchases
ISS Explorer
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Copernicus Sentinel free?
Is ISS Explorer free?
Which has better reviews, Copernicus Sentinel or ISS Explorer?
Do Copernicus Sentinel or ISS Explorer have ads?
Which is updated more often, Copernicus Sentinel or ISS Explorer?
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