https://www.arianespace.com/press-release/arianespace-wins-new-contract-to-launch-sentinel-1c-observation-satellite-on-board-vega-c/Quote - The European Space Agency (ESA), on behalf of the European Commission, and Arianespace have signed a launch contract for the third radar satellite in the Sentinel-1 mission, Sentinel-1C.– The launch is scheduled in the first half of 2023 from the Guiana Space Center, Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
- The European Space Agency (ESA), on behalf of the European Commission, and Arianespace have signed a launch contract for the third radar satellite in the Sentinel-1 mission, Sentinel-1C.– The launch is scheduled in the first half of 2023 from the Guiana Space Center, Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
Tests, tests and MORE TESTS for @CopernicusEU #Sentinel1C!@Thales_Alenia_S has been taking very good care of the satellite this past months and making sure it's ready for launch. The most recent tests were the vibration tests and integration tests with antennas and solar panels.
The @CopernicusEU #Sentinel1 C satellite is currently undergoing a series of tests at @Thales_Alenia_S plant in Cannes, France, including the deployment of a massive satellite’s 10-m long solar wings!🔗
Europe’s next radar satellite tip-top for flight07/02/2023ESA / Applications / Observing the Earth / Copernicus / Sentinel-1Following its arrival at Thales Alenia Space’s cleanroom facilities in the south of France last October, Europe’s next radar satellite, Copernicus Sentinel-1C, has been put through its paces in a series of tests and demonstrated that it is in tip-top condition for flight. Engineers have also carried out the all-important and precise check to ensure that the satellite fits on the adapter that connects it to the rocket that will take it into orbit.As the ‘C’ in its name suggests, Sentinel-1C is the third satellite of its kind and will continue the essential task of delivering radar images from space for numerous environmental services.These services are linked, for example, to monitoring and mapping Arctic sea ice, maritime surveillance including oil-spill monitoring and ship detection, monitoring land-surface for motion risks, mapping for forest, water and soil management and mapping to support humanitarian aid and crisis situations.Carrying advanced radar technology to provide an all-weather, day-and-night supply of images of Earth’s surface and developed by ESA, the Sentinel-1 satellites have raised the bar for spaceborne radar.In April 2014, Copernicus Sentinel-1A was the first satellite to be launched for the European Union’s Copernicus programme, the Earth observation component of the European Union’s space programme.Sentinel-1B followed in 2016 but its mission ended in December 2021 after experiencing a fault that left it unable to deliver data. Sentinel-1B will soon be deorbited.Engineers at Thales Alenia Space, the Prime Contractor for Sentinel-1, have been working tirelessly to move forward getting Sentinel-1C ready for launch.Most recently, they have carried out tests to ensure the satellite will survive the noise and vibrations that it will have to endure during liftoff and separation from the rocket. The sequences and mechanisms that deploy the satellite’s two 10-metre-long solar wings and 12-metre-long radar antenna have also been thoroughly tested.Along with testing it in stowed and deployed configurations, electromagnetic and radio frequency compatibility tests, and more, the satellite passed its qualification and flight acceptance review at the end of last year.The satellite has also undergone checks to ensure that it fits correctly to its Vega-C launch adapter.Ramón Torres, ESA’s Sentinel-1 Project Manager, said, “Our industrial team has pulled out all the stops to get Sentinel-1C to this point following the loss of Sentinel-1B. I would like to thank everybody that has been working so hard on the mission.“We hope to hear about a new launch slot after the investigation into the failure of the Vega-C launch last December.”“Following the launch adapter fit check, the Sentinel-1C satellite will soon be shipped from Cannes and back to Rome for short-term storage until we can then ship it to the launch site in French Guiana.”
Breaking: I have heard from a source that @esa is looking to qualify Sentinel-1C to fly aboard a @SpaceX Falcon 9. The agency is keen to get the satellite into orbit ASAP with the Sentinel-1 constellation operating at a reduced capacity following the loss of Sentinel-1B.
USN LEOP support for Sentinels-1C from AlaskaSentinels-1C is the newest in a series of ESA sponsored earth observationsatellite that is planned to be launched in December 2023 in partnership withNASA but owned by the EU. This LEOP support will begin one month afterlaunch and last for 180 days. The Sentinels-1C spacecraft will be supported bythe USN Alaska ground station, which has been fully coordinated byComsearch/Commscope....
Z40 static firing test expected in June for Vega C return to flight...• Results of firing test key for Vega C flight by year-end
https://www.avio.com/press-release/zefiro-40-firing-test-preliminary-outcomeQuoteColleferro, 29 June 2023 – Yesterday a static firing test of the Zefiro 40 motor (second stage of the Vega C launcher) was performed according to schedule as one of the requirements linked to the return to flight of Vega C after the flight anomaly suffered on the last launch VV22 in December.Following the recommendation of the Independent Enquiry Commission on VV22, the test was performed to qualify the performance of the motor with a new carbon-carbon material for its nozzle throat. The conditions of the test were purposely set as extremely severe in terms of max motor operating pressure in order to demonstrate a large performance margin with a view to ensure maximum flight reliability.Preliminary analysis of test results (to be further investigated in the following days/weeks before reaching definitive conclusions) allowed to reach the following results. The new carbon-carbon material showed a nominal performance, closely linked to prediction. However, after 40 seconds into the test, another anomaly was revealed, leading to a reduction in overall pressure performance of the motor before the test completion planned at 97 seconds. This aspect will require further investigation and testing activity to be conducted by Avio and the European Space Agency to ensure optimal performance conditions.The Vega launcher is unaffected by the performance of Zefiro 40, which is specific to Vega C. Vega next launch remains planned for September. The planning for the return to flight of Vega C is currently under evaluation, pending further analysis and investigation as above mentioned. Avio remains anyway committed to leverage the Vega launcher while Vega C prepares to return to flight.Avio will communicate further details as soon as more detailed analysis is complete.
Colleferro, 29 June 2023 – Yesterday a static firing test of the Zefiro 40 motor (second stage of the Vega C launcher) was performed according to schedule as one of the requirements linked to the return to flight of Vega C after the flight anomaly suffered on the last launch VV22 in December.Following the recommendation of the Independent Enquiry Commission on VV22, the test was performed to qualify the performance of the motor with a new carbon-carbon material for its nozzle throat. The conditions of the test were purposely set as extremely severe in terms of max motor operating pressure in order to demonstrate a large performance margin with a view to ensure maximum flight reliability.Preliminary analysis of test results (to be further investigated in the following days/weeks before reaching definitive conclusions) allowed to reach the following results. The new carbon-carbon material showed a nominal performance, closely linked to prediction. However, after 40 seconds into the test, another anomaly was revealed, leading to a reduction in overall pressure performance of the motor before the test completion planned at 97 seconds. This aspect will require further investigation and testing activity to be conducted by Avio and the European Space Agency to ensure optimal performance conditions.The Vega launcher is unaffected by the performance of Zefiro 40, which is specific to Vega C. Vega next launch remains planned for September. The planning for the return to flight of Vega C is currently under evaluation, pending further analysis and investigation as above mentioned. Avio remains anyway committed to leverage the Vega launcher while Vega C prepares to return to flight.Avio will communicate further details as soon as more detailed analysis is complete.
<snip>What does that mean? Will Sentinel 1C now also be transferred to the Falcon-9?Aside from the Sentinel-1B replacement, how long will Sentinel-1A's fuel reserves last?Do the EU already have to think about the launch of Sentinel-1D?
Launch in December is the goal.QuoteUSN LEOP support for Sentinels-1C from AlaskaSentinels-1C is the newest in a series of ESA sponsored earth observation satellite that is planned to be launched in December 2023 in partnership with NASA but owned by the EU. This LEOP support will begin one month after launch and last for 180 days. The Sentinels-1C spacecraft will be supported by the USN Alaska ground station, which has been fully coordinated by Comsearch/Commscope....
USN LEOP support for Sentinels-1C from AlaskaSentinels-1C is the newest in a series of ESA sponsored earth observation satellite that is planned to be launched in December 2023 in partnership with NASA but owned by the EU. This LEOP support will begin one month after launch and last for 180 days. The Sentinels-1C spacecraft will be supported by the USN Alaska ground station, which has been fully coordinated by Comsearch/Commscope....
USN LEOP support for Sentinels-1C from AlaskaSentinels-1C is the newest in a series of ESA sponsored earth observation satellite that is planned to be launched earliest in December 2023 in partnership with NASA but owned by the EU. This LEOP support will begin one month after launch and last for 180 days. The Sentinels-1C spacecraft will be supported by the USN Alaska ground station, which has been fully coordinated by Comsearch/Commscope....
With Vega-C a launch will probably only be possible in a year at the earliest, I think.A new launch order is not (publicly) known. In addition to the Falcon 9, a launch with GSLV-MK2 would theoretically also be possible. But in what time frame?Incidentally, Sentinel-1C has been missing from the Arianespace launch schedule for some time.
Quote from: GWR64 on 09/24/2023 10:13 amWith Vega-C a launch will probably only be possible in a year at the earliest, I think.A new launch order is not (publicly) known. In addition to the Falcon 9, a launch with GSLV-MK2 would theoretically also be possible. But in what time frame?Incidentally, Sentinel-1C has been missing from the Arianespace launch schedule for some time. Like most of us, I suspect a launch contract with SpaceX will be announced any day now. (No inside information, only an inference from public information.)
I actually heard from someone inside the Sentinel-1C team today. There has been no confirmation just yet, but it looks like they'll be looking for an alternative ride for the satellite.
https://twitter.com/andrewparsonson/status/1721977495451259043Quote Still whispers, but it looks like Sentinel-1C, which is currently scheduled to be launched aboard Vega C in 2024, will be launched aboard Falcon 9. It will likely first be announced that it will be launched aboard the Vega C return to flight mission. However, not only will Vega C likely not make the late 2024 deadline but it’s also considered unlikely that it will have the performance on the return to flight mission for S1C, as it's at the high end of the vehicle's performance envelope. When the contract was initially signed in 2022, S1C was slated to be launched in the first half of 2023. Image credit: IABG
Still whispers, but it looks like Sentinel-1C, which is currently scheduled to be launched aboard Vega C in 2024, will be launched aboard Falcon 9. It will likely first be announced that it will be launched aboard the Vega C return to flight mission. However, not only will Vega C likely not make the late 2024 deadline but it’s also considered unlikely that it will have the performance on the return to flight mission for S1C, as it's at the high end of the vehicle's performance envelope. When the contract was initially signed in 2022, S1C was slated to be launched in the first half of 2023. Image credit: IABG
