Artist's view of Sentinel-2C during fairing separation

Artist's view of Copernicus Sentinel-2C on a Vega launch vehicle moments after fairing release while the third Vega stage, Zefiro-9 is still firing.

The Copernicus Sentinel-2C satellite is set for liftoff on 4 September 2024 on a Vega rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

The Sentinel-2 mission is based on a constellation of two identical satellites, Sentinel-2A (launched in 2015) and Sentinel-2B (launched in 2017), flying in the same orbit but 180° apart to optimise coverage and revisit time.

Each satellite carries a high-resolution multispectral imager to deliver optical images from the visible to the shortwave-infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Once in orbit, Sentinel-2C will replace its predecessor, Sentinel-2A, while Sentinel-2D will later replace Sentinel-2B.