FLEX and Sentinel-3C launch re-watch event on 15 September at ESA’s Space Operations Centre

The two Earth observation satellites are scheduled to launch together aboard a Vega-C rocket (flight VV30) from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, at 03:21 CEST, in the early morning of 15 September.

Following the night-time launch in French Guiana, South America, ESA, the European Commission and partners will host a morning media and VIP event in Darmstadt, featuring a replay of the launch, fresh mission updates from the nearby satellite control rooms - and opportunities to engage with senior representatives from the organisations behind Europe’s latest Earth observation missions.

Event details

Date: Tuesday, 15 September 2026
Location: Room H 05 / Press Centre

ESA/ESOC, Robert-Bosch-Str. 5, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany

www.esa.int/esoc

Media Programme (all times in CEST)

09:00 Check-in at ESOC Security and background discussions in H 05

10:00 Welcome to ESOC by Rolf Densing, ESA Director for Operations, Head of ESOC Establishment

10:10 It takes two to tandem, with Dominique Gillieron, Head of Earth Observation Projects Dept., ESA

10:20 Eyes on science, with Thorsten Fehr, Head of Earth Science Division, ESA

10:30 Panel talk on - New and enhanced observations for users in Europe and worldwide with

Timon Hummel, FLEX Mission Manager (ESA), Attilio Gambardela, Copernicus Policy Officer, European Commission (DG DEFIS), Hayley Evers-King, User Support & Engagement Services Manager (EUMETSAT), Philippe Pelouas, Projects Director Observation, Science and Exploration (Thales Alenia Space)

10:45 Latest from nearby ESA control rooms in critical LEOP “Launch and Early Orbit Phase”, for 2 missions - with Franco Marchese and Elia Maestroni, ESA Operations

10:55 European Access to Space with Vega-C – Nicola Ierardo, Vega E Project Manager, ESA Space Transportation

11:00 Vega C VV30 launch highlights rewatch, end of stage programme in H 05

tbc 11:15 Visit of ESA Main Control Room (MCR) for Media and VIP - incl. filming opportunities (subject to operational requirements)

12:00 Further 1-1 interviews and photos in ESOC H 05 (until max. 13.00 – back-up room nearby H 101) with VIP guests, experts, users, etc – and small lunch served.

13:00 – 14:00 – Optional visit to EUMETSAT, upon request (European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites), located nearby in Darmstadt – taking over Sentinel-3 Operations in routine phase

Media Contact and registration via: Berengere.Vuathier@eumetsat.int

14:00 End of event at ESOC – site closing for all Media and external guests.

Further organisational background

Senior representatives from ESA’s Earth Observation Programmes, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS), EUMETSAT and industrial partners supporting the missions participate in the event and will be available for selected media interviews and background, subject to operational constraints.

ESA leads the development of FLEX and develops Sentinel-3 satellites on behalf of the Copernicus programme, while EUMETSAT is responsible for the routine operations of the Sentinel-3 mission and the delivery of associated data and services to users worldwide.

About FLEX

FLEX is ESA’s latest Earth Explorer mission and the first satellite designed to measure photosynthetic activity from space. Equipped with the Fluorescence Imaging Spectrometer, FLEX will detect the faint fluorescence emitted by vegetation, providing unprecedented information on plant health, ecosystem productivity and the impacts of climate change on the Earth’s biosphere. The ESA mission will offer new insights into how vegetation responds to environmental stress and changing climate conditions.

About Copernicus Sentinel-3C

Copernicus Sentinel-3C is the third satellite in the Sentinel-3 series and will continue the long-term collection of essential environmental data over oceans, land, ice and the atmosphere. The mission supports weather forecasting, climate monitoring, environmental management and scientific research as part of the EU’s Copernicus Earth observation programme. Sentinel-3 is a collaborative mission involving the European Commission, ESA and EUMETSAT. ESA is responsible for the development and procurement of the satellites, while EUMETSAT operates the Sentinel-3 system and delivers mission data and services to users worldwide.

Media registration

Media representatives wishing to attend are requested to register until Friday, 11 Sept. the latest via: https://blogs.esa.int/forms/esa-media-briefing-form/

Further information, including the final programme, speaker list and accreditation arrangements, will be provided to registered media closer to the event.

Media Relations contacts

ESA Media – media@esa.int / bernhard.von.weyhe@esa.int

EC Media team – defis.communication@ec.europa.eu

EUMETSAT Media – Berengere.Vuathier@eumetsat.int

Thales Alenia Space Media - tarik.lahlou@thalesaleniaspace.com

Images

ESA’s Photo Library for Professionals: https://www.esa-photolibrary.com/

Terms and conditions for using ESA images: www.esa.int/spaceinimages/ESA_Multimedia/Copyright_Notice_Images

For questions or more information related to ESA images, please contact directly spaceinimages@esa.int

Videos

ESA’s Video Library for Professionals: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos

Terms and conditions for using ESA video: www.esa.int/spaceinimages/ESA_Multimedia/Copyright_Notice_Images

For questions or more information related to ESA videos, please contact directly spaceinvideos@esa.int

Social media

• X: @esa 
• Bluesky:@esa
• LinkedIn: @ESA
• Facebook: @EuropeanSpaceAgency
• Instagram: @europeanspaceagency
• YouTube: ESA

About the European Space Agency

The European Space Agency (ESA) provides Europe’s gateway to space.

ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.

ESA has 23 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia are Associate Members.

ESA has established formal cooperation with three Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.

By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. It is working in particular with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes as well as with Eumetsat for the development of meteorological missions.

Learn more about ESA at www.esa.int.