Wednesday, Sep 23, 2026 Updated Sep 23, 19:30 UTC

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ESA Primary source

FLEX and Sentinel-3C launch highlights

FLEX and Sentinel-3C launch highlights

Image: ESA

Machine-written summary, checked against the sources below

ESA's FLEX Earth Explorer satellite and the Copernicus Sentinel-3C satellite launched together aboard a Vega-C rocket, flight VV30, from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana on September 15 at 03:21. FLEX carries a Fluorescence Imaging Spectrometer to detect faint fluorescence from plants during photosynthesis, while Sentinel-3C extends the Sentinel-3 constellation providing optical, radar and altimetry data for marine and land services.

ESA’s state-of-the-art FLEX Earth Explorer satellite and the Copernicus Sentinel-3C satellite have been launched together aboard a Vega-C rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, marking a new milestone in Europe’s Earth Observation Programmes. Flight VV30 lifted off on 15 September at 03:21 (14 September at 22:21 local time).

Summary by ESA, the primary source

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