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Europe regains space sovereignty

by AI | 05.Sep 2024 | Europe in brief AI

The Vega rocket successfully placed an observation satellite into orbit on Wednesday, confirming Europe’s return to space sovereignty.

The Vega rocket is ready to launch from the European Space Agency's space center in Kourou, French Guiana, on September 4, 2024, to place the Sentinel-2C satellite into orbit, which is part of the European Union's Copernicus program. (Photo: Ronan LIETAR / AFP)

Kourou (French Guiana, France) – The Italian Vega rocket, which launched Wednesday from Kourou in French Guiana, has placed an observation satellite into orbit, completing its last mission in its classic configuration.

“Successful lift-off for the final Vega mission from Europe’s spaceport!” wrote the Guiana Space Center on the X network.

The Sentinel-2C satellite of the European Union’s Copernicus program was successfully placed in heliosynchronous orbit at about 775 km altitude, 57 minutes and 27 seconds after launch, Arianespace announced on X.

Two months after the inaugural flight of the Ariane 6 rocket, this mission “is the second part of the restoration of space autonomy and European strategic autonomy,” commented Philippe Baptiste, president of the National Center for Space Studies (CNES).

This is all the more important for Europeans – already deprived of Soyuz after the Russian invasion of Ukraine – as they struggle to assert themselves against the American giant SpaceX, which launches its reusable Falcon 9 rockets about twice a week. (September 5, 2024)