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Placing the Earth-observer Sentinel-1C onto its “vampire” payload launch adapter to connect the satellite to the Vega-C rocket that will launch it into a polar orbit, 19 November 2024 at Europe Spaceport’s payload integration facility.<\/p>\n
Earth-observer Sentinel-1C is set to launch on Vega-C rocket flight VV25.\u00a0At 35 m tall, Vega-C weighs 210 tonnes on the launch pad and reaches orbit with three solid-propellant-powered stages before the fourth liquid-propellant stage takes over for precise placement of Sentinel-1C into its orbit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The payload adapter connects the satellite and the rocket launching it. The VAMPIRE backronym stands for Vega Adapter for Multiple Payload Injection and Release.<\/p>\n
In the background are the two fairing halves that will protect Sentinel-1C from the elements on the launch pad and during launch through our atmosphere.<\/p>\n
Carrying advanced radar technology to provide an all-weather, day-and-night supply of imagery of Earth\u2019s surface, the ambitious\u00a0Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission\u00a0has raised the bar for spaceborne radar.<\/p>\n
The mission benefits numerous Copernicus services and applications such as those that relate to Arctic sea-ice monitoring, iceberg tracking, routine sea-ice mapping, glacier-velocity monitoring, surveillance of the marine environment including oil-spill monitoring and ship detection for maritime security as well as illegal fisheries monitoring.<\/p>\n
Europe\u2019s Vega-C rocket can launch 2300 kg into space, such as small scientific and Earth observation spacecraft. Vega-C is the evolution of the Vega family of rockets and delivers increased performance, greater payload volume and improved competitiveness.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n