ESA Prepares for Dual Launch of FLEX and Sentinel‑3C from Kourou

On 15 September, ESA will send two spacecraft—FLEX, a photosynthesis research satellite, and Sentinel‑3C, the latest Copernicus Earth‑monitoring satellite—together on a single launch from Kourou. At ESA’s European Space Operations Centre, the two independent mission teams are rehearsing side‑by‑side, coordinating every phase of their operations. The teams are not only preparing for their individual missions but also for the moments when their activities will overlap during launch and early orbit. This unprecedented joint rehearsal aims to identify and mitigate any potential conflicts between the two spacecraft’s systems and command sequences before the launch window opens. By practicing in parallel, the teams can refine procedures that will keep both satellites on schedule and ensure that their data streams remain uncontaminated by shared launch resources.