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The third\u00a0Copernicus Sentinel-2\u00a0satellite, Sentinel-2C, launched aboard the final\u00a0Vega\u00a0rocket, flight VV24, from Europe\u2019s Spaceport in French Guiana, seen here from the local lake, Lac Bois Diable.\u00a0The rocket lifted off on 5 September at 03:50 CEST (4 September 22:50 local time).\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sentinel-2C will provide high-resolution data that is essential to Copernicus \u2013 the Earth observation component of the European Union\u2019s Space programme. Developed, built and operated by ESA, the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission provides high-resolution optical imagery for a wide range of applications including land, water and atmospheric monitoring.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The mission is based on a constellation of two identical satellites flying in the same orbit but 180\u00b0 apart: Sentinel-2A and Sentinel-2B. Together, they cover all of Earth\u2019s land and coastal waters every five days. Once Sentinel-2C is operational, it will replace its predecessor, Sentinel-2A, following a brief period of tandem observations. Sentinel-2D will eventually take over from Sentinel-2B.<\/p>\n
Sentinel-2C was the last liftoff for the Vega rocket. After 12 years of service, Vega is being retired to make way for the upgraded Vega-C rocket.<\/p>\n
Fittingly the Sentinel-2A and Sentinel-2B satellites were launched on Vega marking a logical conclusion to Vega\u2019s stellar roster of satellites launched. Other missions launched by the small and nimble rocket over its lifetime are flagship ESA missions such as technology demonstrator Proba-V, wind monitoring satellite Aeolus, the reentry vehicle IXV and a forerunner to LISA that will measure gravitational waves in space.<\/p>\n
Vega ensured that Europe has a versatile, independent access to space, complementing the Ariane family of rockets to launch any satellite to any orbit \u2013 continuing with Vega-C and Ariane 6.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n