[Vega C] Sentinel-3C & FLEX Launch Thread

a month ago by threelonmusketeers to c/esa

Scheduled for (UTC) 2026-09-13 21:21:07
Scheduled for (local) 2026-09-13 22:21:07 (GFT)
Launch site ELV, Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana, France
Launch vehicle Vega C
Launch provider Avio
Payload Sentinel-3C (1143 kg)
Payload FLEX (397 kg)
Customer ESA
Target orbit Sun Synchronous Orbit

Vega C consists of three solid stages and one hypergolic stage:

Livestreams

Stream Link
ESA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmrgyh5s-is
Avio (English) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb4CN2avz90
Avio (Français) https://www.youtube.com/...
Avio (Italiana) https://www.youtube.com/...
NASASpaceflight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7nBPHF-hAE
Space Affairs https://www.youtube.com/@Space-Affairs/streams
The Launch Pad https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL9aaN9kmpE
International Rocket Launches https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NaWerj1JVM

Stats

☑️ 2nd Vega C mission of 2026, 8th mission overall

☑️ 2nd Vega mission of 2026, 30th mission overall

Payload info

ESA page

NextSpaceflight page

Sentinel-3C

Sentinel-3C is an Earth observation satellite constellation developed by the European Space Agency as part of the Copernicus Programme. Copernicus, formerly Global Monitoring for Environment and Security, is the European programme to establish a European capacity for Earth observation designed to provide European policymakers and public authorities with accurate and timely information to better manage the environment and to understand and mitigate the effects of climate change.

FLEX

European Space Agency (ESA)'s Fluorescence Explorer (FLEX) will yield information about the health of the world’s plants. FLEX will carry a fluorescence imaging spectrometer called Floris to map vegetation fluorescence around the globe and quantify photosynthetic activity and plant stress. It will detect and measure the light emitted by plants as they convert sunlight and the atmosphere’s carbon dioxide into energy. While this photosynthetic activity is invisible to the naked eye, the instrument will observe the fluorescence of vegetation, yielding important information about plant health. The information gathered will be used to improve our understanding of how carbon moves between plants and the atmosphere and how photosynthesis affects the carbon and water cycles.

threelonmusketeers 1 point a month ago

AVUM+ boost 2 shutdown confirmed. Nominal orbit.

path: 0 25831147, hotness: undefined, score: 1, children: 0
threelonmusketeers 1 point a month ago

Sentinel-3C separation confirmed. Nominal orbit.

path: 0 25831171, hotness: undefined, score: 1, children: 0
threelonmusketeers 1 point a month ago

AVUM+ boost 4 shutdown confirmed, nominal orbit, and separation of FLEX confirmed. Mission success.

path: 0 25831575, hotness: undefined, score: 1, children: 0
threelonmusketeers 1 point a month ago

VESPA+R payload adapter separation confirmed.

path: 0 25831537, hotness: undefined, score: 1, children: 0
threelonmusketeers 1 point a month ago

AVUM+ boost 3 shutdown confirmed. Nominal orbit.

path: 0 25831519, hotness: undefined, score: 1, children: 0
threelonmusketeers 1 point a month ago

AVUM+ boost 4 ignition confirmed.

path: 0 25831563, hotness: undefined, score: 1, children: 0
threelonmusketeers 1 point a month ago path: 0 25830254, hotness: undefined, score: 1, children: 0
threelonmusketeers 1 point a month ago

Zefiro 9 burnout stage separation confirmed.

path: 0 25830662, hotness: undefined, score: 1, children: 0
threelonmusketeers 1 point a month ago

FLEX go no-go poll is complete. They are go for launch.

Sentinel-3C and Vega systems are also currently go for launch.

path: 0 25830512, hotness: undefined, score: 1, children: 0
threelonmusketeers 1 point a month ago

Zefiro burnout, stage separation, Zefiro 9 ignition, and fairing separation confirmed.

path: 0 25830625, hotness: undefined, score: 1, children: 0
threelonmusketeers 1 point a month ago

AVUM+ startup confirmed.

path: 0 25830667, hotness: undefined, score: 1, children: 0
threelonmusketeers 1 point a month ago

AVUM+ boost 3 ignition confirmed.

path: 0 25831506, hotness: undefined, score: 1, children: 0
threelonmusketeers 1 point a month ago

P120C burnout, stage separation, and Zefiro 40 ignition confirmed.

path: 0 25830600, hotness: undefined, score: 1, children: 0
threelonmusketeers 1 point a month ago

LIftoff!

path: 0 25830565, hotness: undefined, score: 1, children: 0
threelonmusketeers 1 point a month ago

AVUM+ boost 2 ignition confirmed.

path: 0 25831110, hotness: undefined, score: 1, children: 0
threelonmusketeers 1 point a month ago

AVUM+ boost 1 completed. Nominal parking orbit.

path: 0 25830761, hotness: undefined, score: 1, children: 0
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