KOUROU, French Guiana, 5 September 2024 — The European Space Agency (ESA) today announced the successful launch of its latest Earth observation satellite, Sentinel-2C, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing Copernicus program. The satellite lifted off aboard a Vega rocket from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, at 03:50 CEST, embarking on its crucial mission to provide continuous, high-resolution optical imagery of our planet.
Sentinel-2C joins its predecessors in the Copernicus constellation, reinforcing Europe's capacity to monitor environmental changes, support agricultural practices, and aid in disaster management. This launch ensures the continuity of vital data streams that have become indispensable for addressing global challenges.
The Sentinel-2C satellite, equipped with state-of-the-art multispectral imaging technology, will contribute to a wide range of applications, including:
This latest addition to the Copernicus fleet ensures the program's ability to deliver uninterrupted, high-quality Earth observation data to users worldwide. The Sentinel-2 mission, with its 10-meter resolution and wide swath, is particularly valued for its frequent revisit times, allowing for near-real-time monitoring of Earth's surface.
The Copernicus program, a joint initiative of the European Commission and ESA, represents the world's most ambitious Earth observation program. It provides accurate, timely, and easily accessible information to improve the management of the environment, understand and mitigate the effects of climate change, and ensure civil security.
The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe's gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe's space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. ESA is an international organization with 22 Member States. Learn more about ESA
Copernicus is the European Union's Earth Observation Programme, looking at our planet and its environment for the ultimate benefit of all European citizens. It offers information services based on satellite Earth Observation and in situ (non-space) data. Discover Copernicus.
For more information about the Sentinel-2 mission and to access Copernicus data, visit: Sentinel Online.
# ESA's Sentinel-2C Satellite Successfully Launches, Bolstering Earth Observation Capabilities