# FLEX and Sentinel-3C launch together on Vega-C

> The European Space Agency’s FLEX research satellite and Copernicus Sentinel-3C were launched into orbit on the same Vega-C flight from French Guiana.

- Canonical URL: https://newsverum.com/en/news/esa-flex-sentinel-3c-september-2026
- Publisher: Newsverum
- Section: Technology
- Published: 2026-10-06T08:58:59+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-07T05:57:27+03:00
- Event / data period: 2026-09-15
- Other editions: [Türkçe](https://newsverum.com/tr/news/esa-flex-sentinel-3c-september-2026.md), [العربية](https://newsverum.com/ar/news/esa-flex-sentinel-3c-september-2026.md), [Français](https://newsverum.com/fr/news/esa-flex-sentinel-3c-september-2026.md), [Español](https://newsverum.com/es/news/esa-flex-sentinel-3c-september-2026.md), [Deutsch](https://newsverum.com/de/news/esa-flex-sentinel-3c-september-2026.md), [Português](https://newsverum.com/pt/news/esa-flex-sentinel-3c-september-2026.md)

Flight VV30 lifted off at 03:21 CEST on 15 September. A new Vespa adapter carried both satellites; Sentinel-3C was deployed first and FLEX about an hour later. ESA received first signals from both spacecraft and confirmed contact with ground control.

FLEX was designed to measure the faint fluorescence plants emit during photosynthesis, supporting research on plant health and ecosystem productivity. Sentinel-3C will continue observations of oceans, land, ice and atmosphere for Copernicus services.

## Data

### Satellites on flight VV30

Number of satellites carried on Vega-C flight VV30.

Methodology: ESA’s release says VV30 carried FLEX and Sentinel-3C.

| label | value | unit | period | basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Satellites launched on the flight | 2 | satellites | 2026-09-15 | observed |

Sources: <https://www.esa.int/Newsroom/Press_Releases/FLEX_and_Sentinel-3C_launched> · Download data: [JSON](https://newsverum.com/api/v1/articles/esa-flex-sentinel-3c-september-2026/data/launch-count?lang=en&format=json) · [CSV](https://newsverum.com/api/v1/articles/esa-flex-sentinel-3c-september-2026/data/launch-count?lang=en&format=csv)

## Sources

- [European Space Agency](<https://www.esa.int/Newsroom/Press_Releases/FLEX_and_Sentinel-3C_launched>) (Source checked: 2026-10-06; Published: 2026-09-15)

## Correction history

- 2026-10-07T00:56:49+03:00: German and Portuguese editions and translations of the data and correction explanations have been added to this article.
- 2026-10-07T05:57:27+03:00: Data classification added: each figure now carries a measure identifier with its unit, geography, frequency and type. No figure, unit or date changed.

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