The Copernicus Sentinel-1C satellite is scheduled to launch on December 4, 2024, at 22:20 CET from Kourou, French Guiana, aboard a Vega-C rocket.

This launch will replace the previous Sentinel-1B satellite, which has been out of service for three years.

The launch represents a critical return to flight for the Vega-C rocket, following a previous failure in December 2022 due to a nozzle issue.

The failure has since been addressed, with successful tests of the improved Zefiro-40 motor conducted in May and October 2024.

The mission is coordinated by the European Space Agency (ESA), which is also responsible for the broader Copernicus program.

Sentinel-1C will continue the mission's goal of providing radar imagery to monitor environmental changes and support scientific research.

This satellite will feature a new Automatic Identification System (AIS) for maritime safety, enabling real-time tracking of ships.

The Copernicus program generates 20 terabytes of data daily, which is freely accessible for industries, research institutions, and governments.

Equipped with C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR), Sentinel-1C can image the Earth under any weather conditions, providing high-resolution data.

Sentinel-1C will join its twin, Sentinel-1A, and seven other satellites monitoring various environmental issues.

ESA encourages the public to follow the launch live on their WebTV and engage with updates on social media using the hashtag #Sentinel1.

A pre-launch media briefing will provide detailed information about the mission's objectives and significance.