Welcome everyone! Time for the return to flight of Vega-C, following the Zefiro 40 upper stage failure on the previous launch two years ago.
| Scheduled for (UTC) | 2024-12-05 21:20 | |
|
| | Scheduled for (local) | 2024-12-05 18:50 (GFT) | | Launch site | ELV, Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana, France | | Launch vehicle | Vega C | | Payloads | Sentinel-1C | | Payload mass | 2,300.0 kg | | Mission success criteria | Successful launch and deployment into Sun-Synchronous Orbit |
Livestreams
| Stream | Link | |
|
| | Arianespace (English) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt3kWdS9EJo | | Arianespace (Français) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XVo-c9E9LQ | | Arianespace (Italiana) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9iZgcvBq3o | | ESA | https://www.youtube.com/@EuropeanSpaceAgency/streams | | Space Affairs | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBwUVT4NpU0 |
Stats
☑️ 1st Vega-C mission of 2024, 4th mission overall
☑️ 2nd Vega mission of 2024, 25th mission overall
☑️ 2nd Arianespace mission of 2024 (not counting Ariane 6 demo), 299th mission overall
Payload info
Sentinel-1C will provide all-weather, day, and night radar imaging for land and ocean services.
Originally intended to launch on the Russian Soyuz launch vehicle, due to geopolitical factors this is no longer an option. ESA instead opted to launch aboard Vega-C.
The launch will be the return to flight for Vega-C, Europe’s lightweight, high-performance rocket – further securing Europe’s autonomy in space after the successful launch of Ariane 6 last summer.
Once in orbit, Sentinel-1C will extend the Sentinel-1 mission’s legacy, delivering radar imagery to monitor Earth’s changing environment to support a diverse range of applications and scientific research.
Please feel free to post updates and questions in the comments!