Europe has marked a significant milestone in its space program with the successful launch of Sentinel-1C on a Vega-C rocket from French Guiana’s Spaceport. This marks the third Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite, which will deliver high-resolution radar imagery to monitor Earth’s changing environment and support various applications.
Sentinel-1C was launched into orbit on December 5, with the Vega-C rocket reaching space in eight minutes and dropping off the satellite at approximately 00:04 CET. The launch was a return-to-flight for Vega-C, which had previously experienced a nozzle issue that forced its first commercial flight to fail in December 2022.
ESA’s Director General Josef Aschbacher praised the success of both the Sentinel-1C mission and the Vega-C rocket, saying it demonstrated Europe’s leadership in space. The launch is crucial for maintaining European independent access to space, with ESA’s Director of Space Transportation Toni Tolker-Nielsen highlighting the importance of this achievement.
The Sentinel-1 mission is designed to support various applications, including climate change monitoring, disaster response, and maritime surveillance. It will also provide an all-weather supply of high-resolution radar imagery, making it a valuable tool for tracking sea ice, monitoring glaciers, and observing ground deformation caused by subsidence and volcanic activity.
ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programmes Simonetta Cheli added that the Sentinel-1 mission is an example of the enduring partnership between ESA and the European Commission. The launch of Sentinel-1C marks a significant step forward in addressing global challenges like climate change, while ensuring the continuity of vital radar data for monitoring Earth’s land, oceans, and ice.
The Sentinel-1C satellite carries advanced radar technology that allows it to capture high-resolution imagery of Earth’s surface, even under challenging weather conditions. Its integrated Automatic Identification System (AIS) will also enable precise tracking of maritime traffic.
The success of the Vega-C rocket marks a key step in restoring Europe’s independent access to space. ESA owns the Vega-C program and has undergone significant improvements to its nozzle design and testing, ensuring that the rocket can deliver increased performance and payload volume.
With Sentinel-1C now in orbit, Europe continues to demonstrate its leadership in space, delivering tangible benefits for Earth through cutting-edge technology and collaboration.
Source: https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-1/Double_win_for_Europe_Sentinel-1C_and_Vega-C_take_to_the_skies