Sentinel-2C Satellite Arrives in French Guiana for September Launch

Sentinel-2C Satellite Arrives in French Guiana for September Launch
by Erica Marchand
Paris, France (SPX) Jul 23, 2024

The Sentinel-2C satellite, the third in the Copernicus Sentinel-2 series, has arrived at the European spaceport in French Guiana. Scheduled for launch on the final Vega rocket in September, Sentinel-2C will continue to deliver valuable data for Copernicus, the Earth observation segment of the EU Space Programme.

After being transported by road from Airbus facilities in Friedrichshafen to Bremen on July 2, Sentinel-2C was shipped on July 4 via the Canopee, the first sail-assisted container ship. Following a two-week voyage, the satellite has arrived safely and will now undergo pre-launch testing.

Constantin Mavrocordatos, Sentinel-2 Project Manager at ESA, commented, "I am extremely proud of the Sentinel-2 team. Their dedication and flexibility allowed us to adapt to the available launcher slots and meet this crucial milestone on time.

"Sentinel-2 has been a tremendous success, dedicated to observing land and coastal areas. With Sentinel-2C, and later Sentinel-2D, we will be able to serve the user community and scientists for at least another decade, providing the tools to closely monitor our environment and help decision-makers take informed actions."

The Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission comprises two identical satellites, Sentinel-2A (launched in 2015) and Sentinel-2B (launched in 2017), flying 180 apart in the same orbit for optimal coverage and revisit times.

Equipped with a high-resolution multispectral imager, the satellite will capture optical images from the visible to the shortwave infrared spectrum. From an altitude of 786 km, Sentinel-2C will provide continuous imagery in 13 spectral bands with resolutions of 10, 20, and 60 meters, covering a wide swath width of 290 km.

Sentinel-2 data supports a variety of applications such as precision farming, water quality monitoring, natural disaster management, and methane emissions detection.

The satellite is particularly effective for monitoring natural ecosystems, distinguishing between different vegetation types and providing data on biophysical variables like leaf area index, chlorophyll content, and leaf water content.

Once operational, Sentinel-2C will replace Sentinel-2A, with Sentinel-2D later replacing Sentinel-2B. Together with the Sentinel-2 Next Generation satellite, they will ensure data continuity beyond 2035.