Vega C Rocket Launches Earth Satellites

Vega C Rocket Launches Two European Earth-Observing Satellites

Space

FLEX and Sentinel-3C were successfully deployed from French Guiana to strengthen Europe’s monitoring of vegetation, oceans, land and weather.

Vega C launched two European Earth-observation satellites
FLEX will monitor plant photosynthesis and vegetation fluorescence
Sentinel-3C will support environmental, ocean and weather monitoring
Both satellites were successfully deployed at 820 kilometres altitude
Avio managed its second Vega C launch

A Vega C rocket was launched from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, carrying two European Earth-observation satellites on September 14.

The rocket lifted off at 9:21 p.m. EDT, carrying the FLEX and Sentinel-3C spacecraft. The satellites were successfully deployed into orbit at an altitude of 509 miles (820 kilometres), with both spacecraft flying freely about 116 minutes after launch.

The FLEX satellite, which weighs 875 pounds (397 kilograms), will observe vegetation fluorescence and measure photosynthetic activity in plants. Data from the satellite will be used for research on the global carbon cycle, agriculture and food security.

The Sentinel-3C, on the other hand, was launched for the European Union’s Copernicus Earth-observation programme. Weighing 2,520 pounds (1,143 kilograms), the satellite will continue the Sentinel-3 satellite series.

The Sentinel-3C satellite is designed to provide data for large-scale environmental monitoring, ocean forecasting and weather forecasting. Its predecessors, Sentinel-3A and Sentinel-3B, were launched in 2016 and 2018, respectively.

The Vega C rocket is 115 feet (35 metres) tall. The launcher was developed by the European Space Agency and initially operated under France-based Arianespace. Italian aerospace company Avio now oversees the launcher’s missions, and this mission marked the second Vega C launch managed by Avio. Business Honor observes that the mission strengthens Europe’s Earth-observation capabilities while adding new data for environmental research, agriculture, ocean monitoring and weather forecasting.