Watch reside: Vega-C to launch Sentinel-1C

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29/11/2024
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The Copernicus Sentinel-1C satellite tv for pc is prepared for liftoff! Tune in to ESA WebTV on 4 December from 22:00 CET to look at the satellite tv for pc soar into area on a Vega-C rocket to be launched from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Sentinel-1C is scheduled to liftoff at 22:20 CET.

The launch would be the return to flight for Vega-C, Europe’s light-weight, high-performance rocket – additional securing Europe’s autonomy in area after the profitable launch of Ariane 6 final summer season.

As soon as in orbit, Sentinel-1C will lengthen the Sentinel-1 mission’s legacy, delivering radar imagery to watch Earth’s altering surroundings to assist a various vary of purposes and scientific analysis.

Observe the launch reside from Kourou (all occasions CET)

Observe the launch reside on ESA WebTV on 4 December from 22:00 CET.

Time in CET	Time after liftoff (hours:minutes:seconds)	Occasion
22:00	-00:20	Programme begins
22:20	00:00:00	Liftoff
22:22	00:02:21	Vega-C first stage P120C separation
22:25	00:04:32	Vega-C second stage Zefiro-40 separation
22:25	00:05:03	Fairing jettison
22:27	00:07:08	Vega-C third stage Zefiro-9 separation
22:28	00:08:16	First ignition of Vega-C higher stage, AVUM+
22:54-23:11		Programme break
23:14	00:53:27	Second ignition of higher stage, AVUM+
23:17-00:01		Programme break
00:01	01:40:29	Third ignition of higher stage, AVUM+
00:04	01:43:51	Sentinel-1C separation
00:16	01:56	Acquisition of sign
00:40	02:19	Press convention
01:25	03:04	Finish of press convention

About Copernicus Sentinel-1C

The Sentinel-1 mission, the primary within the household of Copernicus, is predicated on a constellation of two an identical satellites flying in the identical orbit however 180° aside, to optimise international protection and information supply for Copernicus – the Earth statement element of the EU’s Area Programme.

Sentinel-1A was the primary satellite tv for pc within the collection, launched in April 2014, adopted by the launch of Sentinel-1B in 2016. The Sentinel-1B mission got here to an finish in August 2022 after experiencing a technical fault that rendered it unable to accumulate information. The satellite tv for pc has been efficiently de-orbited and can re-enter Earth’s environment inside 25 years.

Sentinel-1C, together with its sibling Sentinel-1A, will return the mission to its full potential as a two-satellite constellation. Sentinel-1A is then due to get replaced by Sentinel-1D later subsequent yr.

Copernicus: Sentinel-1

As a complicated radar mission, Copernicus Sentinel-1 can picture the floor of Earth by way of cloud and rain and no matter whether or not it’s day or evening. Sentinel-1 carries a C-band artificial aperture radar (SAR) instrument, which permits it to seize high-resolution imagery of Earth’s floor.

This highly effective radar system operates in a number of modes, together with broad swath and high-resolution, offering detailed information on land subsidence, ice actions and ocean situations.

The brand new Sentinel-1C satellite tv for pc may also carry a brand new Computerized Identification System (AIS). Developed by the Worldwide Maritime Organisation, this method is designed to assist ships keep away from collisions, significantly when they’re too removed from land-based radar techniques. This expertise assigns a singular ID to every vessel and tracks its place and actions in real-time, making a digital map of the ships at sea.

Extra details about Copernicus Sentinel-1

About Vega-C

Vega-C rocket with Sentinel-1C satellite tv for pc artist’s impression

Europe’s Vega-C rocket can launch 2300 kg into area, corresponding to small scientific and Earth statement spacecraft. At 35 m tall, Vega-C weighs 210 tonnes on the launch pad and reaches orbit with three solid-propellant-powered phases earlier than the fourth liquid-propellant stage takes over for exact placement of satellites into their desired orbit round Earth. Vega-C is the evolution of the Vega household of rockets and delivers elevated efficiency, larger payload quantity and improved competitiveness.

Complementing the Ariane household to launch all sorts of payloads into their desired orbits, Vega-C ensures that Europe has versatile and unbiased entry to area. ESA owns the Vega-C programme, working with Avio as prime contractor and design authority. Arianespace will function the launch service supplier for the launch of Sentinel-1C.

This launch marks Vega-C’s return to flight, a key step in restoring Europe’s unbiased entry to area. The primary industrial flight in December 2022 failed on account of a nozzle difficulty in its Zefiro-40 motor. Since then, an improved nozzle was designed and constructed and the entire Zefiro-40 stage has undergone two profitable firing assessments, in Might and October 2024, which demonstrated the motor’s potential to carry out reliably below totally different strain situations and burn durations. These assessments have confirmed the motor’s readiness, clearing the trail for Vega-C’s upcoming flight.

Cannot anticipate launch day? Print out these directions and template to make your individual Vega-C paper mannequin.

Extra details about Vega-C