Double success for Europe as Sentinel-1C and Vega-C take flight

Double success for Europe as Sentinel-1C and Vega-C take flight
by Erica Marchand
Paris, France (SPX) Dec 06, 2024

The European Space Agency (ESA) has successfully launched the Sentinel-1C satellite aboard the Vega-C rocket, signifying a major milestone for Europe's space ambitions. The Sentinel-1C mission, part of the Copernicus Earth observation program, took off from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana on December 4 at 22:20 CET (18:20 local time), achieving a flawless flight that placed the satellite into orbit by 00:04 CET.

This mission, designated VV25, is a key milestone as it marks the Vega-C rocket's return to regular commercial operations after a period of upgrades. Vega-C, Europe's advanced lightweight launcher, completed its flight in eight minutes, with ESA establishing contact with Sentinel-1C at 00:12 CET, confirming its successful deployment.

ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher expressed his pride in the achievement, stating, "One moment combined two great European achievements today: the third launch of a Sentinel-1 satellite and the third launch of Vega-C, marking a triumphant return to form for both flagship European projects. It was exciting and touching to see the mix of the European launcher and Copernicus community and teams rooting each other on in true Team Europe form."

Sentinel-1C: Strengthening Earth Observation

Sentinel-1C continues the legacy of its predecessors, Sentinel-1A and Sentinel-1B, by delivering high-resolution radar imagery to support environmental monitoring, scientific research, and practical applications. The satellite carries a C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) instrument capable of capturing high-resolution images under all weather conditions, day and night.

Key applications of Sentinel-1C data include Arctic sea-ice monitoring, iceberg tracking, disaster response, and environmental mapping. It also provides vital information for maritime security, such as tracking oil spills, monitoring illegal fishing activities, and observing ground deformation due to natural events like earthquakes and volcanic activity.

With the Automatic Identification System (AIS) onboard, Sentinel-1C introduces advanced capabilities for maritime traffic monitoring. Four antennas work in tandem to capture signals from ships, offering precise details like vessel identity, location, and route.

Simonetta Cheli, ESA's Director of Earth Observation Programmes, remarked, "The mission plays a crucial role in addressing global challenges like climate change and disaster response, while ensuring the continuity of vital radar data for monitoring Earth's land, oceans and ice."

Vega-C's Comeback

Vega-C, standing 35 meters tall and capable of lifting up to 2300 kg into orbit, has resumed operations following enhancements to its Zefiro-40 motor. After an earlier failure in December 2022, the rocket underwent extensive redesigns and tests, including two successful firings in 2024. These improvements have restored confidence in Vega-C's reliability, enabling its role in ensuring Europe's independent access to space.

ESA's Director of Space Transportation, Toni Tolker-Nielsen, acknowledged the significance of the achievement, saying, "With Vega-C back in flight and the inaugural launch of Ariane 6 in July, we are in a great place going forward, and I salute all the hard-working teams all over Europe and its spaceport who have worked tirelessly to achieve this success."

The Sentinel-1 program exemplifies the collaborative efforts of ESA, the European Commission, industry leaders, and data users. Built by a consortium led by Thales Alenia Space and Airbus Defence and Space, the satellite demonstrates Europe's technological prowess.

Sentinel-1C data, freely available through the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem, supports a wide range of applications that benefit humanity and the planet. The program underscores Europe's commitment to space exploration and its potential to address global challenges.