Copernicus Sentinel-3C
ESA / European Commission / EUMETSAT · Earth, sun-synchronous orbit
Continuing the Sentinel-3 environmental record for forecasting and climate research.
At a glance
- Phase
- commissioning
- Operator
- ESA / European Commission / EUMETSAT
- Destination
- Earth, sun-synchronous orbit
- Next milestone
- Launch and early orbit phase checks over the coming days, followed by commissioning of its four instruments
- Last verified
- 15 September 2026
Where it stands
Launched on Vega-C flight VV30 on 15 September 2026 at 01:21 UTC (03:21 CEST); injected into orbit first of the two passengers, and ESA's operations centre received its first signal.
The mission
The third Sentinel-3 spacecraft carries four science instruments to extend observations of oceans, land, ice and the atmosphere. Routine operations are managed jointly by ESA and EUMETSAT on behalf of the European Commission.
Latest reporting
Related
Sources
- esa.int · https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FLEX_and_Sentinel-3C_launched
- esa.int · https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FLEX_and_Sentinel-3C_ready_for_liftoff_on_Vega-C
- emarketstorage.it · https://www.emarketstorage.it/sites/default/files/comunicati/2026-07/20260730_187461.pdf