The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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As part of the test campaign to make sure Sentinel-2A is fit for launch, a model of the Vega rocket’s upper stage was used to simulate the shock of separation when the satellite is released into orbit around Earth. The test was also carried out using a model of the Rockot upper stage. Sentinel-2A will be launched on a Vega rocket from Kourou, French Guiana, in spring 2015, while it is planned to launch Sentinel-2B on Rockot from Plesetsk, Russia, in 2016. The satellites are being built in parallel.