Europe Says Goodbye to Vega Rocket in Copernicus Mission

Arianespace launched the final mission for the original Vega rocket on Sept. 4, launching the Copernicus Sentinel-2C satellite. 

Vega was in service for 12 years with 20 successful flights. It will be replaced by the upgraded Vega-C launcher, which is expected to return to flight by the end of this year. The rocket debuted in July of 2022, but suffered a failure during its second mission caused by an issue with a nozzle in the second stage. 

The Vega mission took off from the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana, at 10:50 pm local time on Wednesday. Vega placed the satellite into Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO) at an altitude of 775 km. Spacecraft separation occurred 57 minutes and 27 seconds after lift-off.

“By successfully delivering the Copernicus Sentinel-2C to orbit, the Vega launcher – the last of its generation — has once again showcased its unique versatility and performance, as it has done throughout its 12 years in operation,” Arianespace CEO Stéphane Israël said. “We are now super excited to prepare with Avio and ESA the launch of Sentinel-1C with the return to flight of Vega C.” 

The European Space Agency (ESA) confirmed post-launch it had established communication with the satellite. This launch is the 5th Sentinel satellite in the Copernicus program to be launched by Arianespace. 

The Copernicus Sentinel-2C satellite has wide swath, high-resolution, and multi-spectral imaging capabilities. It was built by a consortium of around 60 companies led by Airbus Defence and Space. Its imagery will support agriculture, water quality monitoring, natural disaster management and methane emissions detection.

ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programmes, Simonetta Cheli, commented: “This mission further confirms the role of Copernicus as a leading program to contribute to climate change and environmental challenges worldwide, but also ensures the continuity of vital data to support agriculture, forestry, maritime monitoring, and for many other sectors. We are solidifying Europe’s commitment to a sustainable future, empowering decision-makers with the tools they need to protect our planet.”

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