Sentinel-3C & FLEX

Mission: Sentinel-3C & FLEX

Earth Science · Sun-Synchronous Orbit

Sentinel-3C is the third satellite in the Sentinel-3 constellation, which provides high-accuracy optical, radar and altimetry data for marine and land services. The Fluorescence Explorer (FLEX) satellite is a part of ESA's Earth Explorer program. The satellite will map vegetation fluorescence to quantify photosynthetic activity.

Customers: ESA

Part of Copernicus

What it put in orbit

COSPAR ID 2026-209. Orbits from the CelesTrak satellite catalogue (perigee × apogee, inclination).

Where to watch

Timeline

1. T+00:00:00 Liftoff
2. T+00:02:27 Stage 2 Separation
3. T+00:02:28 SES
4. T+00:04:32 Stage 3 Separation
5. T+00:04:39 Stage 3 Ignition
6. T+00:04:44 Fairing Separation
7. T+00:07:11 Kick Stage Separation
8. T+00:08:23 Kick Stage Ignition
9. T+00:17:06 Kick Stage Cut-off
10. T+00:55:29 Kick Stage Ignition
11. T+00:58:30 Kick Stage Cut-off
12. T+01:00:50 Payload Separation
13. T+01:46:19 Kick Stage Ignition
14. T+01:46:49 Kick Stage Cut-off
15. T+01:54:32 Kick Stage Ignition
16. T+01:54:58 Kick Stage Cut-off
17. T+01:56:03 Payload Separation
18. T+02:23:32 Kick Stage Ignition
19. T+02:24:58 Kick Stage Cut-off

In the news

• Sentinel-3C returns its first views of Earth ESA, 8 Oct 2026

Headlines via the Spaceflight News API.

Updates

• Both satellites successfully deployed and signals acquired from both. source
• Liftoff. source
• Official Webcast by Avio SpA has started source
• GO for launch on September 15 UTC. source
• NET September 11 source
• NET September 9. source
• NET September 1st, together with FLEX. source
• NET October 2026 source
• NET September 2026. (see 02:17:55 mark) source
• NET June 2026 source
• NET 2026 source
• NET Q1 2025. source
• Adding launch NET October 2024 source