launch pad in Kourou, French Guiana.”>Enlarge / The last Vega rocket poised for launch at the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana. (credit: European Space Agency)
Eagerly Anticipated Launch of the Final Vega Rocket
The last mission of Europe’s Vega rocket is set to take place on Wednesday night, with the launch aiming to deploy a significant environmental monitoring satellite as part of the European Union’s prominent Copernicus program.
Launch Schedule and Mission Details
This noteworthy event is scheduled for 9:50 PM EDT on Wednesday (01:50 UTC on Thursday) from the European-operated spaceport located in Kourou, French Guiana. The 30-meter tall Vega rocket will ascend northward from its coastal launch site, targeting a polar orbit situated approximately 775 kilometers (480 miles) above our planet.
Payload Overview: Sentinel-2C Satellite
The primary cargo aboard this flight is Sentinel-2C, an advanced remote sensing satellite designed to enhance Europe’s capabilities in environmental science through the Copernicus network. This multi-billion-dollar initiative represents the globe’s most extensive system dedicated to Earth observation via space-based assets equipped with diverse instruments aimed at monitoring various elements such as terrestrial landscapes, oceanic bodies, and atmospheric conditions.
This mission marks a pivotal advancement for comprehensive environmental awareness and action within Europe and globally.
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