Welcome everyone! Time for the return to flight of Vega-C, following the Zefiro 40 upper stage failure on the previous launch two years ago.

Scheduled for (UTC)	2024-12-05 21:20
Scheduled for (local)	2024-12-05 18:50 (GFT)
Launch site	ELV, Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana, France
Launch vehicle	Vega C
Payloads	Sentinel-1C
Payload mass	2,300.0 kg
Mission success criteria	Successful launch and deployment into Sun-Synchronous Orbit

Livestreams

Stream	Link
Arianespace (English)	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt3kWdS9EJo
Arianespace (Français)	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XVo-c9E9LQ
Arianespace (Italiana)	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9iZgcvBq3o
ESA	https://www.youtube.com/@EuropeanSpaceAgency/streams
Space Affairs	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBwUVT4NpU0

Stats

☑️ 1st Vega-C mission of 2024, 4th mission overall

☑️ 2nd Vega mission of 2024, 25th mission overall

☑️ 2nd Arianespace mission of 2024 (not counting Ariane 6 demo), 299th mission overall

Payload info

NextSpaceflight

Sentinel-1C will provide all-weather, day, and night radar imaging for land and ocean services.

Originally intended to launch on the Russian Soyuz launch vehicle, due to geopolitical factors this is no longer an option. ESA instead opted to launch aboard Vega-C.

ESA

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.

Please feel free to post updates and questions in the comments!