The Italian company Avio successfully conducted its second Vega C mission of 2026 on September 15. The rocket launched from the Guiana Space Centre at 01:21 UTC, deploying the Sentinel-3C satellite and the FLEX spacecraft into orbit.
The mission involved two separate deployment sequences using the AVUM+ upper stage. Sentinel-3C was released approximately one hour after liftoff, followed by the FLEX mission 56 minutes later. This flight marks the second launch since Avio took over operational responsibilities from Arianespace.
Sentinel-3C is designed to monitor Earth's oceans, land, and atmosphere, eventually replacing the Sentinel-3A satellite. The 1.15-tonne spacecraft tracks sea-surface temperatures and ice characteristics. The FLEX mission aims to map vegetation fluorescence to evaluate plant health and photosynthetic activity.
Avio plans a third and final launch for 2026, scheduled for early December. This upcoming mission will carry satellites for the Italian IRIDE constellation. CEO Giulio Ranzo noted that a previously planned fourth launch was canceled because a satellite delivery was delayed.
