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Europe introduces last Vega rocket with observation satellite

Europe's Arianespace has introduced the last Vega rocket, positioning the Sentinel2C satellite into orbit under the European Union's Copernicus program to monitor Earth's environment.

The slender single-body rocket, which does not have boosters strapped to its side unlike bigger cars, spotted into the night sky at a launch base in French Guiana at 10.50 p.m. regional time on Sept 4 (0150 GMT on Sept 5), streamed images revealed.

The launch ends a 12-year profession for the small launch vehicle, created by Italy's Avio. It is being changed by the upgraded Vega C, which is because of go back to service later on this year after being grounded following a launch failure with the loss of two powerful imaging satellites in December 2022.

Constructed by Plane Defence & & Space, Sentinel-2C will change Sentinel-2A, which becomes part of a pair of satellites operating within the Copernicus program.

It will be utilized to study deforestation, urban development and emergencies such as forest fires, floods or volcanic eruptions, Mauro Facchini, head of the Copernicus system at the European Commission, told press reporters before the launch.

The European Space Company, which partners the EU on the job, has said Copernicus is the world's largest environmental monitoring effort.

Together, the programme's six families of Guard satellites aim to read the planet's crucial indications from carbon dioxide to wave height or temperature levels of land and oceans.

In 2022, Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite images highlighted serious dry spell damage to Italy's Po Valley.

(source: Reuters)