Credit: ESA-CNES-Arianespace/Optique vidéo du CSG–S. Martin

Thursday 5 December, the European Copernicus programme’ Sentinel-1C satellite, developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) on behalf of the European Commission, was sent into Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of approximately 700 kilometres by the Vega-C launcher from Europe’s spaceport at the Guiana Space Centre (CSG). Sentinel-1C will replace Sentinel-1B, continuing the heritage of its predecessors imaging all of Earth’s land masses and coastal waters every five days to acquire highresolution data crucial to Copernicus, the Earth-observation component of the EU’s space programme.

Copernicus is the most comprehensive programme of its kind in the world, providing a steady stream of reliable Earth-observation data and services free of charge to governments, businesses and citizens the world over. Managed by the European Commission, it is funded by the European Union with a contribution from ESA. Sentinel-1C, the third satellite in the programme’s Sentinel-1 series, will have the vital task of acquiring radar imagery of Earth’s surface in all weathers, day and night, to deliver key environmental data for the planet.

This 25th launch in the Vega series since its first mission in February 2012 marks the return to flight of the enhanced Vega-C. Designed to loft small satellites into low Earth orbit, the Vega family has ensured versatile and independent access to space for Europe for many years. It ideally complements Ariane 6, offering the ability to launch all sizes of satellite into a full range of orbits. Vega has notably orbited the flagship Earth-observation satellites Sentinel-2A & 2B, LISA Pathfinder, VENμS, Aeolus, Pleiades NEO 3 & 4, the NɛSS 3U technology demonstration nanosatellite in 2023, and more recently Sentinel-2C this summer.

Commenting on the launch, CNES Chairman & CEO Philippe Baptiste said: “This return to flight for Vega- C secures Europe’s independent access to space after the fantastic first flight of Ariane 6 in July. With this latest success, spacefaring Europe has now recovered its versatile launch capability, marking its return to the topflight of space launch and proving once more the excellence, availability and performance of the Guiana Space Centre, Europe’s spaceport. CNES is proud to be playing its part in this European adventure. I would like to congratulate the teams at ESA, ASI, Avio, Arianespace and across the European space industry, and of course all the teams at the CSG and CNES, whose technical and operational prowess was once again on display.”