Interviews with personnel that worked on the return to flight of Vega-C, flight VV24, with Sentinel-1C onboard. 

This video shows interviews with ESA’s Vega Launch System and Engineering Manager, Benoit Pouffary, ESA’s Sentinel-1 Project Manager, Ramón Torres, Thales Alenia Space Sentinel-1C Program Manager, Paolo Romani and Avio Sauvegarde Engineer Audrey Sanchis 

The third Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite was launched on a Vega-C rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. Sentinel-1C extends the legacy of its predecessors, delivering high-resolution radar imagery to monitor Earth’s changing environment, supporting a diverse range of applications and advancing scientific research. Additionally, Sentinel-1C introduces new capabilities for detecting and monitoring maritime traffic. 

Sentinel-1C was launched into orbit on 5 December, lifting off aboard Vega-C at 22:20 CET (18:20 local time). The launch proceeded smoothly, with the rocket reaching space in eight minutes and dropping off Sentinel-1C at approximately 00:04 CET. 

The launcher’s mission, called VV25, is a return-to-flight for Vega-C – Europe’s lightweight, high-performance rocket – marking the restart of routine commercial operations for the new launcher. At 00:12 CET, ESA established communication with the satellite confirming that it was safely in orbit. 

Complementing the Ariane family to launch all types of payloads into their desired orbits, Vega-C ensures that Europe has versatile and independent access to space. ESA owns the Vega-C programme, working with Avio as prime contractor and design authority. Arianespace was the launch service provider for Sentinel-1C. 

The Sentinel-1 mission is the result of close collaboration between ESA, the European Commission, industry, service providers and data users. Designed and built by a consortium of more than 70 companies led by Thales Alenia Space and Airbus Defence and Space, it is an outstanding example of Europe’s technological excellence. 

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