08/04/2022 (Agence Europe) – The European Space Agency (ESA), on behalf of the European Commission, and Arianespace have signed a launch contract for the third satellite in the Sentinel-1 mission, the Sentinel-1C satellite, under the framework of the EU’s Copernicus observation programme. The launch, which uses the new Vega-C light launcher, is scheduled for the first half of 2023 from the Guiana Space Centre (CSG), Europe’s spaceport in French Guiana. Prior to Sentinel-1C, the Sentinel-1A and Sentinel-1B satellites were launched by Arianespace in 2014 and 2016 respectively. This is good news because, while the Russian Space Agency has withdrawn its launchers and personnel from the CSG (see EUROPE 12918/27), it should make up for the unexplained failure of the Sentinel 1-B satellite at the end of 2021 (see EUROPE 12914/14). (PH)