ESA - FLEX

ESA title

The mission

Using novel technology, the Fluorescence Explorer (FLEX) will yield information about the health of the world’s plants. The information gathered will be used to improve our understanding of how carbon moves between plants and the atmosphere and how photosynthesis affects the carbon and water cycles.

The launch

Date: 15 September 2026
Site: Kourou, French Guiana
Rocket: Vega-C

814 Km altitude
3.5 yrs mission life
27-day repeat cycle

FLEX

Press Release N° 35–2026

Call for interest: media programme for FLEX and Copernicus Sentinel-3C launch at Europe’s Spaceport

Media representatives are invited to express their interest in attending the media programme at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana for the launch of the FLEX and Copernicus Sentinel-3C satellites on a Vega-C rocket (flight VV30). Liftoff is expected to take place on 14 September 2026 (22:21 local time, 03.21 CEST on 15 September).

20/07/2026 681 views

FLEX and Sentinel-3 head to launch site

FLEX and Sentinel-3C arrive at Europe’s Spaceport

16/07/2026 1575 views 39 likes

FLEX, Sentinel-3C and MTG-I2 on show at TAS cleanrooms

Three ESA-built satellites on show in France

16/04/2026 4019 views 59 likes

Press Release N° 13–2026

Media invitation: three innovative European weather and climate satellites in the cleanroom

Journalists are invited to a one-off opportunity to see three ESA-built satellites in their final preparations before liftoff.

11/03/2026 1486 views

FLEX

Ride into space on Vega-C secured for FLEX and Altius

11/01/2022 5098 views 94 likes

FLEX

Thales Alenia Space leads the build of photosynthesis missi…

18/01/2019 5004 views 70 likes

FLEX concept

Deal signed for FLEX’s fluorescence finder

07/11/2016 8740 views 67 likes

More items

Applications
FLEX images
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FLEX videos
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Documents and publications
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Discover FLEX

FLEX and vegetation fluorescence

ESA's photosynthesis mission

2847 views 4 likes

Shining a light on plant health

Food and carbon

947 views 0 likes

Plant life

Photosynthesis

5518 views 6 likes

Fluorescence in laboratory

Fluorescence

3009 views 1 likes

FLEX in an anechoic chamber

The satellite

370 views 1 likes

FLEX instrument mounted on its satellite

The instrument

508 views 1 likes

FLEX for a better understanding of plant health

Facts and figures

5444 views 5 likes

KSAT ground station in Svalbard

Data flow

1254 views 4 likes

ESRIN

Data products

6375 views 3 likes

Mission Advisory Group icon

Mission Advisory Group

1678 views 5 likes

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