Almost two years after the failed launch, the European Vega C launch vehicle finally took to the skies. On Thursday evening, Vegas launched the Sentinel-1C satellite into orbit at an altitude of 700 km.
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The new European Vega-C rocket was launched from Kourou (a city and municipality in France, in the overseas department of Guiana) at 18:20 on Thursday, 5 December. The rocket launched a Sentinel-1C satellite into orbit for the European Union's Copernicus Earth Observation Programme.
It is believed that the successful launch of Vega-C and the launch of Sentinel-1C is crucial for Europe's autonomy in access to space.
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Due to the failure of its first commercial mission, when two satellites that Vega C was carrying were lost due to a failure of the Zefiro-40 engine nozzle, the rocket was improved on Earth over the next two years. although the rocket was originally expected to take off again in 2023, the European Space Agency (ESA) and its partners, especially the Italian main contractor Avio, considered it necessary to continue testing it.
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A new French nozzle was installed. The improved nozzle design passed two successful fire tests in May and October 2024, which demonstrated the engine's ability to provide reliable operation under various pressure and burning conditions.
The recent launch marks Vegas ' return to flight, a key step in restoring Europe's independent access to space.
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The Sentinel-1C satellite will enter orbit at an altitude of 693 kilometers, at the site left by its predecessor 1B, which ended its service in 2022 due to electrical problems, and will work in coordination with 1A, which has been active since 2014.
Among the new features, it has an automatic identification (AIS) antenna that improves ship tracking to avoid collisions and sea surveillance.
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The useful life of the satellite is seven years, which can be extended to twelve, and is designed to re-enter the atmosphere after the mission is completed. The Sentinel-1 mission is equipped with advanced radar technology that allows you to get images of the Earth's surface anywhere.
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