Sentinel-2C prepared for transatlantic journey to farewell Vega launch

TAMPA, Fla. — Sentinel-2C is able to be shipped from Germany for a two-week journey throughout the Atlantic Ocean to the European spaceport in French Guiana, the place Europe’s newest Earth science satellite tv for pc is because of launch on the ultimate flight of the unique model of the Vega rocket.

Producer Airbus mentioned July 3 it had loaded the satellite tv for pc onto Canopée, a sail-assisted cargo ship designed particularly to move elements for Europe’s Ariane 6 rocket.

Like its Airbus-built predecessors Sentinel-2A and -2B — launched in 2015 and 2017, respectively — Sentinel-2C’s payload is designed to generate optical photographs from the seen to the shortwave infrared area of electromagnetic spectrum.

Every Sentinel-2 satellite tv for pc collects 1.5 terabytes of information per day following onboard compression, supporting functions starting from monitoring land use to environmental monitoring. 

Airbus mentioned the 1,100-kilogram Sentinel-2C spacecraft would supply steady imaging in 13 spectral bands from an altitude of 786 kilometers above Earth. With a swath width of 290 kilometers, the corporate mentioned the payload would supply photographs with resolutions of 10, 20 or 60 meters. 

Sentinel-2C would finally substitute Sentinel-2A, which is an identical to Sentinel-2B. Airbus can be below contract to supply the Sentinel-2D satellite tv for pc to interchange Sentinel-2B and guarantee knowledge continuity past 2035.

The satellites are a part of Copernicus, the Earth statement element of the European Union’s area program that leverages varied applied sciences in orbit.

“About half of the info used to evaluate and monitor the impression of local weather change on Earth is definitely delivered by satellites,” Marc Steckling, Airbus head of Earth statement, science and exploration, mentioned in a press release.

“The Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites have supplied worthwhile local weather info to scientists since 2015 and Sentinel-2C will guarantee continuity. Moreover, they’ve additionally made monitoring marine litter from area a actuality, a major achievement contemplating how crucial this problem has turn out to be.”

Arianespace’s next-generation medium-lift Vega C rocket efficiently launched a handful of satellites in its July 2022 maiden flight.

Nonetheless, the rocket failed to achieve orbit throughout its second mission 5 months later — destroying two Airbus Pléiades Neo imaging satellites within the course of — and has been grounded since.

The European House Company mentioned in Could it’s getting ready to return Vega C to service earlier than the top of 2024.

The ultimate flight of the unique model of the Vega rocket was additionally on account of launch early this 12 months earlier than operating into an issue with its higher stage.

Following its personal collection of setbacks, the primary flight of Arianespace’s Ariane 6 heavy-lift rocket, the successor to Ariane 5, is anticipated to happen July 9 from French Guiana.

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