Sentinel-1C on Vega-C upper stage

Artist's impression of Copernicus Sentinel-1C orbiting Earth on the Vega-C rocket upper stage. 

Sentinel-1C is the third Sentinel-1 satellite to be launched as part of Europe’s Copernicus programme. It will continue the critical task of delivering radar imagery for a wide range of services, applications and science – all of which benefit society.

The fourth stage of ESA's Vega-C rocket is called Attitude and Vernier Upper Module, or AVUM+. On flight VV25, it connects to the Sentinel-1C satellite and accompanies it for the first complete orbit of our planet, firing its liquid-fuelled engines in three separate bursts of up to five minutes to place Sentinel-1C as close to a perfect orbit as possible. After satellite separation, a final burn of the stage will de-orbit itself to leave no space debris.