Sentinel-2C Set for Launch from French Guiana

Sentinel-2C Set for Launch from French Guiana
by Erica Marchand
Paris, France (SPX) Jul 23, 2024

The Sentinel-2C satellite, the third in the Copernicus Sentinel-2 series, has arrived at the European spaceport in French Guiana. It is scheduled for launch on the final Vega rocket in September, continuing the mission to provide high-quality Earth observation data for the EU Space Programme's Copernicus initiative.

Transported by road from Airbus facilities in Friedrichshafen to Bremen on July 2, Sentinel-2C was then shipped on the Canopee - the first sail-assisted container ship - on July 4. After a two-week voyage, it has safely reached its destination and is now undergoing pre-launch tests.

"I am extremely proud of the Sentinel-2 team. Their dedication and flexibility allowed us to adapt to the available launcher slots and meet this crucial milestone on time," said Constantin Mavrocordatos, Sentinel-2 Project Manager at ESA.

"Sentinel-2 has been a tremendous success, dedicated to observing land and coastal areas. With Sentinel-2C, and later Sentinel-2D, we will be able to serve the user community and scientists for at least another decade, providing the tools to closely monitor our environment and help decision-makers take informed actions."

The Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission consists of a constellation of two identical satellites, Sentinel-2A (launched in 2015) and Sentinel-2B (launched in 2017), flying in the same orbit but 180 apart to enhance coverage and revisit time.

Equipped with a high-resolution multispectral imager, Sentinel-2C will capture optical images from the visible to the shortwave infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Operating at an altitude of 786 km, it will provide continuous imagery in 13 spectral bands with resolutions of 10, 20, and 60 meters and a wide swath width of 290 km.

Data from Sentinel-2 is currently utilized for various applications, including precision farming, water quality monitoring, natural disaster management, and methane emissions detection.

Sentinel-2 provides valuable information for monitoring natural ecosystems, differentiating between various vegetation types and providing data on biophysical variables such as leaf area index, leaf chlorophyll content, and leaf water content.

Upon reaching orbit, Sentinel-2C will replace Sentinel-2A, and Sentinel-2D will later replace Sentinel-2B. Together with the future Sentinel-2 Next Generation satellite, they will ensure data continuity beyond 2035.