The Vega-C rocket carried two European scientific satellites into orbit in a launch from Kourou, actu.orange.fr reports. The payloads were Sentinel-3C and Flex, according to the same outlet.
Sentinel-3C is built to measure multiple ocean parameters, Mer et Marine reports. Flex, described by lefigaro.fr as a European satellite that will take the pulse of plants from space, is focused on vegetation.
Le Monde.fr reported that the rocket lifted off from Kourou carrying two European satellites. The launch date reported in the source material is September 15, 2026.
The mission extends Europe's environmental monitoring work in orbit. Thales Alenia Space, cited by boursedirect.fr, strengthened its position in the environmental space sector through the launch. The company's involvement reflects the industrial base behind Europe's Earth-observation programs.
Sentinel-3C joins a series of satellites dedicated to tracking ocean conditions, while Flex adds a new capability aimed at vegetation. Together the two payloads cover both sea and land measurements from orbit.
What to watch next: whether both satellites reach their intended operational orbits and when their first scientific data becomes available.