14 Sep 2026

Two Earth observation satellites – ESA’s Fluorescence Explorer (FLEX) satellite, and the third satellite for the Copernicus Sentinel-3 mission – are encapsulated inside the nose cone of a Vega-C launcher and are awaiting liftoff at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

Launch is scheduled for tonight: 15 September at 03:21 CEST (14 September at 22:21 local time).

The satellites – two separate missions – will capture data about our changing global environment. While the FLEX mission will monitor the health of Earth’s vegetation, Sentinel-3C, together with the two Sentinel-3 satellites already in orbit, will monitor oceans, land, ice and atmosphere for Copernicus, the Earth observation component of the European Union’s Space Programme.

The launch vehicle is Europe’s Vega-C rocket. First, it will deploy Sentinel-3C, and then after some launcher manoeuvres, it will be followed by FLEX, which is fitted inside the Vespa+R payload adapter.

Find out how to watch the launch broadcast live here.

[Image]

(A) LEX and Sentinel-3C ready for launch

(B) Closing the Vespa adapter around FLEX with Sentinel-3 attached to the top

(C) FLEX and Sentinel-3C on a roll

(D) Vega-C fairing opens to reveal Sentinel-3C and FLEX