With liftoff scheduled for 4 December at 22:20 CET (18:20 Kourou time), the Copernicus Sentinel-1C satellite, encapsulated in the Vega-C rocket fairing, is now at the launch pad and being mated to the rest of the rocket.
Sentinel-1C at the launch pad. (ESA –M. Pédoussaut)
After the satellite had been fuelled in the cleanroom, it was encapsulated within the half-shells of the Vega-C rocket fairing. The fairing protects the satellite during liftoff.
Ready to be encapsulated in the fairing. (ESA –M. Pédoussaut)
Encapsulation is always an emotional time for the teams as this marks the last time they will see the satellite.
However, once encapsulation is complete the team get the opportunity to sign the fairing sticker.
Signing the Sentinel-1C fairing sticker. (ESA-CNES-ARIANESPACE/Optique vidéo du CSG)
Signed and sealed for delivery into orbit. (ESA-CNES-ARIANESPACE/Optique vidéo du CSG)
The next step was to roll out the ‘upper composite’ to the launch pad and hoist it up into the launch tower.
Sentinel-1C arrives at the Vega-C launch tower. (ESA –M. Pédoussaut)
Sentinel-1C at the launch pad. (ESA –M. Pédoussaut)
The launch will be the return to flight for Vega-C, Europe’s lightweight, high-performance rocket – further securing Europe’s autonomy in space after the successful launch of Ariane 6 last summer.
Once in orbit, Sentinel-1C will extend the Sentinel-1 mission’s legacy, delivering radar imagery to monitor Earth’s changing environment to support a diverse range of applications and scientific research.
Tune in to ESA WebTV on 4 December from 22:00 CET to watch the satellite soar into space on a Vega-C rocket to be launched from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Sentinel-1C is scheduled to liftoff at 22:20 CET.
Read more about the Sentinel-1 mission
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