European Union successfully launched Copernicus Sentinel-3C & FLEX (FLuorescence Explorer) aboard a Vega C launcher

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On 15 September 2026 at 03:21 CET , the European Union successfully launched Copernicus Sentinel-3C from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, aboard a Vega C launcher. The satellite established its first contact with Earth at 04:33 CET confirming that is in good health.

It was launched along with ESA’s Earth observation satellite FLEX (FLuorescence Explorer).

Sentinel-3C 

Sentinel-3C will provide data that help us better understand what is happening on Earth, from changes in the oceans and polar regions to wildfires, droughts and extreme heat.

Owned and managed by the European Commission as part of Copernicus, the EU’s Earth observation programme, the satellite will provide data that are freely available to public and private users around the world. The mission has been delivered in close cooperation with the European Space Agency, EUMETSAT and Avio.

Sentinel 3C will also strengthen the continuity of the Copernicus Sentinel-3 mission. Once operational, it will work alongside the other Sentinel 3 satellites to ensure that users can continue to access the Earth observation data they need.

The satellite will now undergo several months of commissioning and calibration. Its instruments and systems will be tested before it becomes fully operational.

Once this process is complete, Sentinel 3C will start delivering high quality observations to users around the world, helping scientists, authorities and businesses better understand and respond to a changing planet.

The FLuorescence EXplorer (FLEX) mission

The FLuorescence EXplorer (FLEX) mission will provide global maps of vegetation fluorescence that can reflect photosynthetic activity and plant health and stress. 

Primary Objective: Quantify global photosynthetic activity, plant health, and environmental stress to improve our understanding of the terrestrial carbon and water cycles. 

1. " Successful Launch of EU Copernicus Sentinel-3C to Monitor Our Changing Planet " - European Commission

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