Avio S.p.ALaunch SuccessfulEarth Science

Sentinel‑3C & FLEX

Name: Vega-C | Sentinel-3C & FLEX
Start: 2026-09-15T01:21:07Z
Location: Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV), Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

Vega-C

Launched Tue, Sep 15 · 1:21:07 AM UTC2026-09-15 01:21:07 UTCAriane Launch Area 1 (ELV), Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

Reached orbit

Follow Avio S.p.A in the app Watch the replay

Success

Reached Sun-Synchronous Orbit

The second stage released the payload at T+1:00:50.

Worldwide

217th

orbital launch attempt in 2026

Avio S.p.A

2nd

launch this year

Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV)

2nd

launch from this pad this year

Pad turnaround

118 d 21 h

since the pad's previous launch

Replay

Replay: Vega C | Flight VV30 | Sentinel-3C - FLEX | Avio

The Flight Plan

Planned times, from liftoff at 1:21 AM UTC. The result is at the top of the page.

Ascent19

T+0:001:21 AMFirst upwards movement of the rocket
T+2:271:23 AMSeparation of the second stage from the first
T+2:281:23 AMStart of the second engine
T+4:321:25 AMSeparation of the third stage from the second
T+4:391:25 AMThird stage engine ignites.
T+4:441:25 AMSeparation of the payload fairing
T+7:111:28 AMSeparation of the kick stage from the previous stage
T+8:231:29 AMStart of the kick stage engine
T+17:061:38 AMCut-off of the kick stage engine
T+55:292:16 AMStart of the kick stage engine
T+58:302:19 AMCut-off of the kick stage engine
T+1:00:502:21 AMFinal deployment of the payload from the rocket
T+1:46:193:07 AMStart of the kick stage engine
T+1:46:493:07 AMCut-off of the kick stage engine
T+1:54:323:15 AMStart of the kick stage engine
T+1:54:583:16 AMCut-off of the kick stage engine
T+1:56:033:17 AMFinal deployment of the payload from the rocket
T+2:23:323:44 AMStart of the kick stage engine
T+2:24:583:46 AMCut-off of the kick stage engine

Mission

Sentinel-3C is the third satellite in the Sentinel-3 constellation, which provides high-accuracy optical, radar and altimetry data for marine and land services.

The Fluorescence Explorer (FLEX) satellite is a part of ESA's Earth Explorer program. The satellite will map vegetation fluorescence to quantify photosynthetic activity.

Launch Provider

Avio S.p.A

Commercial · Italy · Founded 1908 · CEO Giulio Ranzo

Avio S.p.A. is an Italian company operating in the aerospace sector with its head office in Colleferro near Rome, Italy. Founded in 1908, it is present in Italy and abroad with different commercial offices and 10 production sites.

Launches

Successful

100%

Upcoming

scheduled

FliesVega

All Avio S.p.A launches Website Wikipedia

Updates

Sep 15 · 3:23 AM
Both satellites successfully deployed and signals acquired from both.
Cosmic_Penguin
Sep 15 · 1:21 AM
Liftoff.
Cosmic_Penguin
Sep 15 · 12:47 AM
Official Webcast by Avio SpA has started
Launch Library 2
Jul 30 · 2:09 PM
GO for launch on September 15 UTC.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jun 25 · 12:08 PM
NET September 11
Nosu

Show earlier updates

Jun 5 · 2:22 PM
NET September 9.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jan 11 · 9:34 PM
NET September 1st, together with FLEX.
Cosmic_Penguin
Dec 6 · 7:23 AM
NET October 2026
Nosu
Nov 6 · 11:58 PM
NET September 2026. (see 02:17:55 mark)
Cosmic_Penguin
Sep 15 · 11:37 AM
NET June 2026
Nosu
May 27 · 2:32 PM
NET 2026
Nosu
Mar 15 · 1:01 PM
NET Q1 2025.
Cosmic_Penguin
Nov 21 · 8:28 PM
Adding launch NET October 2024
Nosu

Vega-C

Vehicle history

Height

34.8m

Diameter

To low Earth orbit

3,300kg

Liftoff thrust

2,974kN

Space Launch Now for iOS and Android

Notifications before every launch you follow, live countdowns on your home screen and watch, and webcasts as they start.

See what's in the app

Scan to open on your phone

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Avio S.p.ALaunch SuccessfulEarth Science

Sentinel‑3C & FLEX

Vega-C

Launched Tue, Sep 15 · 1:21:07 AM UTC2026-09-15 01:21:07 UTCAriane Launch Area 1 (ELV), Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

Reached orbit

Follow Avio S.p.A in the app Watch the replay

Success

Reached Sun-Synchronous Orbit

The second stage released the payload at T+1:00:50.

Worldwide

217th

orbital launch attempt in 2026

Avio S.p.A

2nd

launch this year

Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV)

2nd

launch from this pad this year

Pad turnaround

118 d 21 h

since the pad's previous launch

Replay

Replay: Vega C | Flight VV30 | Sentinel-3C - FLEX | Avio

The Flight Plan

Planned times, from liftoff at 1:21 AM UTC. The result is at the top of the page.

Ascent19

T+0:001:21 AMFirst upwards movement of the rocket
T+2:271:23 AMSeparation of the second stage from the first
T+2:281:23 AMStart of the second engine
T+4:321:25 AMSeparation of the third stage from the second
T+4:391:25 AMThird stage engine ignites.
T+4:441:25 AMSeparation of the payload fairing
T+7:111:28 AMSeparation of the kick stage from the previous stage
T+8:231:29 AMStart of the kick stage engine
T+17:061:38 AMCut-off of the kick stage engine
T+55:292:16 AMStart of the kick stage engine
T+58:302:19 AMCut-off of the kick stage engine
T+1:00:502:21 AMFinal deployment of the payload from the rocket
T+1:46:193:07 AMStart of the kick stage engine
T+1:46:493:07 AMCut-off of the kick stage engine
T+1:54:323:15 AMStart of the kick stage engine
T+1:54:583:16 AMCut-off of the kick stage engine
T+1:56:033:17 AMFinal deployment of the payload from the rocket
T+2:23:323:44 AMStart of the kick stage engine
T+2:24:583:46 AMCut-off of the kick stage engine

Mission

Sentinel-3C is the third satellite in the Sentinel-3 constellation, which provides high-accuracy optical, radar and altimetry data for marine and land services.

The Fluorescence Explorer (FLEX) satellite is a part of ESA's Earth Explorer program. The satellite will map vegetation fluorescence to quantify photosynthetic activity.

Launch Provider

Avio S.p.A

Commercial · Italy · Founded 1908 · CEO Giulio Ranzo

Launches

Successful

100%

Upcoming

scheduled

FliesVega

All Avio S.p.A launches Website Wikipedia

Updates

Sep 15 · 3:23 AM
Both satellites successfully deployed and signals acquired from both.
Cosmic_Penguin
Sep 15 · 1:21 AM
Liftoff.
Cosmic_Penguin
Sep 15 · 12:47 AM
Official Webcast by Avio SpA has started
Launch Library 2
Jul 30 · 2:09 PM
GO for launch on September 15 UTC.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jun 25 · 12:08 PM
NET September 11
Nosu

Show earlier updates

Jun 5 · 2:22 PM
NET September 9.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jan 11 · 9:34 PM
NET September 1st, together with FLEX.
Cosmic_Penguin
Dec 6 · 7:23 AM
NET October 2026
Nosu
Nov 6 · 11:58 PM
NET September 2026. (see 02:17:55 mark)
Cosmic_Penguin
Sep 15 · 11:37 AM
NET June 2026
Nosu
May 27 · 2:32 PM
NET 2026
Nosu
Mar 15 · 1:01 PM
NET Q1 2025.
Cosmic_Penguin
Nov 21 · 8:28 PM
Adding launch NET October 2024
Nosu

Vega-C

Vehicle history

Height

34.8m

Diameter

To low Earth orbit

3,300kg

Liftoff thrust

2,974kN

Next From Guiana Space Centre

Guiana Space Centre schedule

Nov23Mon

Amazon Leo (LE-04)Arianespace · Ariane 64 Block 2 · Ariane Launch Area 4, Guiana Space Centre, French GuianaLow Earth OrbitTo be determinedTime TBD Dec—NET

Metop-SG B1Arianespace · Ariane 62 · Ariane Launch Area 4, Guiana Space Centre, French GuianaSun-Synchronous OrbitTo be determinedNET December

Space Launch Now for iOS and Android

Notifications before every launch you follow, live countdowns on your home screen and watch, and webcasts as they start.

See what's in the app

Scan to open on your phone

Sentinel‑3C & FLEX

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Ascent19

Mission

Avio S.p.A

Updates

Vega-C

Sentinel‑3C & FLEX

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Ascent19

Mission

Avio S.p.A

Updates

Vega-C

Next From Guiana Space Centre

Next From Guiana Space Centre

Sentinel‑3C & FLEX

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Ascent19

Mission

Avio S.p.A

Updates

Vega-C

Never Miss a Launch.

Sentinel‑3C & FLEX

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Ascent19

Mission

Avio S.p.A

Updates

Vega-C

Next From Guiana Space Centre

Never Miss a Launch.

Next From Guiana Space Centre