Media representatives are invited to attend the launch re-watch event for the FLEX (Fluorescence Explorer) and Copernicus Sentinel-3C satellites at the European Space Operations Centre (ESA/ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany, on Tuesday morning, 15 September 2026.
The two Earth observation satellites are scheduled to launch together aboard a Vega-C rocket (flight VV30) from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana, at 03:21 CEST, in the early morning of 15 September.
Following the night-time launch in French Guiana, South America, ESA, the European Commission and partners will host a morning media and VIP event in Darmstadt, featuring a replay of the launch, fresh mission updates from the nearby satellite control rooms - and opportunities to engage with senior representatives from the organisations behind Europe's latest Earth observation missions.
Event details
Date: Tuesday, 15 September 2026
Location: Room H 05 / Press Centre
ESA/ESOC, Robert-Bosch-Str. 5, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
Media Programme (details still tbc, all times in CEST)
09:00 Check-in at ESOC Security and background discussions in H 05
10:00 Welcome to ESOC by Rolf Densing, ESA Director for Operations, Head of ESOC Establishment
10:10 It takes two to tandem, with Dominique Gillieron, Head of Earth Observation Projects Dept., ESA
10:20 Eyes on science, with Thorsten Fehr, Head of Earth Science Division, ESA
10:30 Panel talk on - New and enhanced observations for users in Europe and worldwide with
Timon Hummel, FLEX Mission Manager (ESA), Attilio Gambardela, Copernicus Policy Officer, European Commission (DG DEFIS), Hayley Evers-King, User Support & Engagement Services Manager (EUMETSAT), Philippe Pelouas, Projects Director Observation, Science and Exploration (Thales Alenia Space)
10:45 Latest from nearby ESA control rooms in critical LEOP "Launch and Early Orbit Phase", for 2 missions - with Franco Marchese and Elia Maestroni, ESA Operations
10:55 European Access to Space with Vega-C - Nicola Ierardo, Vega E Project Manager, ESA Space Transportation
11:00 Vega C VV30 launch highlights rewatch, end of stage programme in H 05
