Independent Calibration of the Sentinel-1C SAR SystemASCII CitationKlenk, Patrick und Giez, Jakob und Schmidt, Kersten und Nannini, Matteo und Schwerdt, Marco (2024) Independent Calibration of the Sentinel-1C SAR System. European Conference on Synthetic Aperture Radar (EUSAR), 2024-04-23 - 2024-04-26, Munich, Germany. (eingereichter Beitrag)Dieses Archiv kann nicht den Volltext zur Verfügung stellen.KurzfassungSentinel-1C will be the third satellite of the Sentinel-1 mission. To be launched in early 2024, it will ensure seamless continuity of C-band SAR data for global monitoring of the Earth surface in the framework of the COPERNICUS program. In parallel to the commissioning of Sentinel-1C by the European Space Agency (ESA), an independent verification of the system calibration will be performed by DLR under an ESA contract. Based on an efficient calibration strategy, this paper describes the different activities to be performed by DLR and may present initial results obtained during the commissioning phase (CP) of Sentinel-1C....
CEOS EO HANDBOOK – AGENCY SUMMARY - ESA:https://database.eohandbook.com/database/agencysummary.aspx?agencyID=8QuoteApproved Missions timelineMission Launch Sentinel-1 C Mar 2024 ...
Approved Missions timelineMission Launch Sentinel-1 C Mar 2024 ...
Does anyone know if this date is current?https://elib.dlr.de/197922/QuoteIndependent Calibration of the Sentinel-1C SAR SystemASCII CitationKlenk, Patrick und Giez, Jakob und Schmidt, Kersten und Nannini, Matteo und Schwerdt, Marco (2024) Independent Calibration of the Sentinel-1C SAR System. European Conference on Synthetic Aperture Radar (EUSAR), 2024-04-23 - 2024-04-26, Munich, Germany. (eingereichter Beitrag)Dieses Archiv kann nicht den Volltext zur Verfügung stellen.KurzfassungSentinel-1C will be the third satellite of the Sentinel-1 mission. To be launched in early 2024, it will ensure seamless continuity of C-band SAR data for global monitoring of the Earth surface in the framework of the COPERNICUS program. In parallel to the commissioning of Sentinel-1C by the European Space Agency (ESA), an independent verification of the system calibration will be performed by DLR under an ESA contract. Based on an efficient calibration strategy, this paper describes the different activities to be performed by DLR and may present initial results obtained during the commissioning phase (CP) of Sentinel-1C....
ESA director of space transportation Toni Tolker-Nielsen has announced that Vega C will return to flight on 15 November 2024. The agency is, however, considering Falcon 9 as a backup for the launch of Sentinel 1C.
How has this thing not been launched 2 and a half years in?
Successful engine test boost Vega-C towards return-to-flight28.05.24Colleferro (Rome), 28 May 2024 – The Zefiro-40 solid rocket motor, the second stage of the Vega C rocket, was tested on 28 May by Vega-C prime contractor Avio at its Salto di Quirra test facility in Sardinia, Italy. The motor featured an improved engine nozzle design, required to prepare for a Vega-C return-to-flight by the end of 2024.Initial post-test review indicates that the new nozzle assembly performed as expected throughout the scheduled 94 seconds burning time of the test, simulating a nominal in-flight performance.The Zefiro-40 is a 7.6 m tall rocket motor, loaded with over 36 tons of solid propellant. For this test the motor was installed on its horizontal test bench. Zefiro-40 is developed and manufactured by Avio in their Colleferro factory near Rome, Italy.A second firing test will be conducted after the summer to confirm the data collected today. Avio engineers will review the data from the first test to prepare for a second test in October that will then qualify the second stage Zefiro-40 solid rocket motor for return-to-flight by end 2024 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.Vega-C is a 35 m high launcher with a mass at liftoff of 210 000 kg. It can place about 2300 kg into a polar orbit. Vega-C can accommodate a mix of cargo shapes and sizes, ranging from CubeSats as small as one kilogram up to a single large payload.From Vega to Vega-CVega-C is the larger evolution of the Vega family of rockets. The original Vega was launched in 2012 and has flown 21 times since. The last Vega flight is scheduled this summer, after which the model will be retired and Vega-C will take over. The smaller Vega variant does not use the Zefiro-40 stage.ESA is responsible for the Vega-C launch system qualification and also purchases launch services for European institutional missions. The Vega-C development programme was carried out with participation of thirteen ESA Member States, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland. The Agency is the contracting authority for the development of Vega-C, supports both the development and exploitation, while also providing technical supervision based on its 30 years of experience.Avio is the prime contractor and design authority of the Vega-C launchers. Arianespace is the launch service provider.
hales Alenia Space@Thales_Alenia_S🚚Moving days for the @esa 's #Sentinel1C satelliteThe spacecraft has been successfully shipped from Rome’s plant to Cannes, France.Now it's time for some more tests👩🔬🛰️Staytuned #spaceforlife #copernicus
Start: Sentinel-1A: 3. April 2014, Sentinel-1B: 25. April 2016 (außer Betrieb), Sentinel-1C: Dez. 2024, Sentinel-1D: Q4/2025, Sentinel-1 NG: ab 2032
At the press conference, Stefan Israel gave the following dates for the next three launches. Six Ariane 6 launches are planned for 2025.Vega - Early September for Copernicus.Vega C - End November.Ariane 6 - December.
SN Europe sees Ariane 6 launch as an end to its “launcher crisis” [Jul 23, Jeff Foust]Quote<snip>ESA is also preparing for the return to flight of the Vega C, grounded since a launch failure in December 2022. A separate task force is working on that effort, [Josef Aschbacher, ESA director general] said. “Since the beginning of the task force, which was the end of last year, we have not lost a single day along the schedule,” he said.That return-to-flight mission, carrying the Senintel-1C radar imaging Earth science satellite, is scheduled to fly between mid-November and mid-December, with a more specific date to come after a second test firing of the redesigned second-stage motor at the end of September or early October. Aschbacher said in the interview that another factor in the launch date for Vega C will be the upcoming final launch of the original version of the Vega rocket, currently set for September carrying Sentinel-2C. “There’s a certain number of weeks necessary for the ground operations and the preparations in Kourou,” the spaceport that hosts Vega and Ariane launches, he said. Any slip in that Vega launch could push back the Vega C launch, he said, even if the Vega C is itself ready to launch.
<snip>ESA is also preparing for the return to flight of the Vega C, grounded since a launch failure in December 2022. A separate task force is working on that effort, [Josef Aschbacher, ESA director general] said. “Since the beginning of the task force, which was the end of last year, we have not lost a single day along the schedule,” he said.That return-to-flight mission, carrying the Senintel-1C radar imaging Earth science satellite, is scheduled to fly between mid-November and mid-December, with a more specific date to come after a second test firing of the redesigned second-stage motor at the end of September or early October. Aschbacher said in the interview that another factor in the launch date for Vega C will be the upcoming final launch of the original version of the Vega rocket, currently set for September carrying Sentinel-2C. “There’s a certain number of weeks necessary for the ground operations and the preparations in Kourou,” the spaceport that hosts Vega and Ariane launches, he said. Any slip in that Vega launch could push back the Vega C launch, he said, even if the Vega C is itself ready to launch.
QuoteSoftware fix planned to correct Ariane 6 upper stage issue Jeff Foust September 16, 2024...“We could have done the second flight without correcting it,” he said, since the mission does not require multiple burns of the Vinci engine to place the satellite in its planned orbit. “But we want to deorbit the second stage during this second flight, and to deorbit the upper stage we need to correct what has happened.” ...Israël said Arianespace is still planning to conduct the second Ariane 6 launch by the end of the year, weeks after the return to flight of the Vega C rocket currently planned for late November or early December, even with the APU software change. “We will see if we match this objective in the coming weeks and months,” he said of the schedule.Source, full article: https://spacenews.com/software-fix-planned-to-correct-ariane-6-upper-stage-issue/
Software fix planned to correct Ariane 6 upper stage issue Jeff Foust September 16, 2024...“We could have done the second flight without correcting it,” he said, since the mission does not require multiple burns of the Vinci engine to place the satellite in its planned orbit. “But we want to deorbit the second stage during this second flight, and to deorbit the upper stage we need to correct what has happened.” ...Israël said Arianespace is still planning to conduct the second Ariane 6 launch by the end of the year, weeks after the return to flight of the Vega C rocket currently planned for late November or early December, even with the APU software change. “We will see if we match this objective in the coming weeks and months,” he said of the schedule.
https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1841797982129123423QuoteHead of the Italian space agency ASI reports a successful second test-firing of the redesigned Zefiro 40 motor for the Vega C, which paves the way for the rocket's return to flight late this year.https://twitter.com/valente_teodoro/status/1841811938650550475QuoteGreat success for the test of the Zefiro 40 engine of #VegaC , which paves the way for the launch in December. The #Italia , with the @esa confirms its leading role in the launch sector. Soon in orbit Sentinel 1-C of the @CopernicusEU@Avio_Group @ASI_spazio @mimit_gov @GiulioRanzo program
Head of the Italian space agency ASI reports a successful second test-firing of the redesigned Zefiro 40 motor for the Vega C, which paves the way for the rocket's return to flight late this year.
Great success for the test of the Zefiro 40 engine of #VegaC , which paves the way for the launch in December. The #Italia , with the @esa confirms its leading role in the launch sector. Soon in orbit Sentinel 1-C of the @CopernicusEU@Avio_Group @ASI_spazio @mimit_gov @GiulioRanzo program
First Stage for Vega C Return to Flight Arrives at Launch PadOctober 10, 2024The P120 solid-fuel first stage that will power the Vega C rocket’s return-to-flight mission has been transferred to the ZLV launch pad at the Guiana Space Centre.[...]The cargo ship MN Toucan arrived in French Guiana on 19 September, carrying elements for the rocket’s return-to-flight mission. Once removed from the hull of the Toucan, the P120 first stage was transferred to the booster integration building (BIP) for unpacking and final preparation. On 3 October, the stage was transferred from the integration building to the VEGA launch zone (ZLV) and placed on the launch pad. The first interstage will be stacked next, followed by the recertified Z40 second stage with its redesigned nozzle.[...]
It’s been a busy week for the Sentinel-1C satellite!On Friday, 11 October, the team kicked things off by pressurising the satellite’s fuel tank with nitrogen to check for any leaks in the valves or tank.After de-pressurising it the next day, they confirmed everything was in great shape! Since working with fuel can be hazardous, only essential staff were allowed in the clean room during this process.By Monday, the satellite team moved on to functional tests, running checks on all the subsystems.