N° 44–2026: Media invitation: FLEX and Copernicus Sentinel-3C online media briefings

Liftoff is expected on 14 September 2026 (22:21 local time, 03.21 CEST on 15 September) from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.  

FLEX is ESA’s photosynthesis mission. This new Earth Explorer mission is equipped with the Fluorescence Imaging Spectrometer that can detect the faint fluorescence emitted by plants as they absorb sunlight. This signal, invisible to the human eye, varies depending on plant health and environmental conditions. The mission will provide new insights into vegetation health and photosynthetic activity on a global scale. 

Copernicus Sentinel-3C is the third satellite in the Sentinel-3 series. It will deliver near-real time data to monitor conditions over ocean, land, ice and atmosphere, to support weather forecasting as well as climate science. Like its predecessors, the satellite carries a suite of instruments that measure ocean height, sea and ice surface temperatures, ocean colour and sea ice thickness. Over land, it will monitor vegetation, wildfires, ice sheet and the water levels of inland lakes and rivers. Together with the other Sentinel missions, it contributes to the European Commission’s Copernicus programme. 

Briefing schedule

Please register by 17:00 CEST on Wednesday 2 September via ESA's Media Accreditation form. Only registered media will be able to attend and ask questions. 

Friday 4th September (all times in CEST) 

13:00 – 14:00: Briefing in German 

• Ralf Bock, FLEX project manager / Benedikt Guldimann, Sentinel-3 payload manager, ESA
• Hugo Zunker, Deputy Head of Unit, European Commission (DG DEFIS)
• Milen Tahtadjiev, Copernicus Missions Manager, Eumetsat 

 

14:00 – 15:00: Briefing in English  

• Simonetta Cheli, Director of Earth Observation, ESA
• Mauro Facchini, Head of Copernicus Unit, European Commission (DG DEFIS)
• Phil Evans, Director-General, Eumetsat 
• Yvan Baillion, Director of Earth Observation, Science and Exploration Programs, Thales Alenia Space 

This session will be recorded and will be available on the ESA website. 

 

15:00 – 16:00: Briefing in French 

• Simonetta Cheli, Director of Earth Observation, ESA
• Mauro Facchini, Head of Copernicus Unit, European Commission (DG DEFIS) 
• Paul Counet, Head of Strategy, Communication and International Relations, Eumetsat 
• Yvan Baillion, Director of Earth Observation, Science and Exploration Programs, Thales Alenia Space 

16:00 – 17:00: Briefing in Italian  

• Simonetta Cheli, Director of Earth Observation, ESA
• Mauro Facchini, Head of Copernicus Unit, European Commission (DG DEFIS) 
• Paolo Ruti, Chief Scientist, Eumetsat
• Enrico Zampolini, Vice President Observation & Navigation Italy, Thales Alenia Space

Background

The Sentinel-3C satellite forms part of Copernicus, the European Union’s flagship Earth observation initiative within its Space Programme. Copernicus is overseen and financed by the European Union, in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA). 

Thales Alenia Space is the prime contractor for both satellites, and FLEX's Fluorescence Imaging Spectrometer was provided by Leonardo (Italy).  

Sentinel-3 and FLEX are flying to space on Vega-C flight VV30. At 35 m tall, Vega-C weighs 210 tonnes on the launch pad and the rocket will take its passengers to orbit with three solid-propellant-powered stages before the fourth liquid-propellant stage takes over for two precise drop-offs around Earth in their required orbit. 

The Vega-C programme is led by ESA, working with Avio as prime contractor and design authority. It ensures that Europe has versatile and independent access to space. 

Images

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

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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.