Watch Europe’s Vega rocket launch live tonight at 9:50 p.m. ET

  • Vega rocket to launch its final mission tonight
  • Sentinel-2C Earth-observing satellite carried by Vega
  • Live webcast available on European Space Agency’s website
  • Arianespace transitioning to more powerful Vega C
  • Sentinel-2C replaces Sentinel-2A launched in 2015

Europe’s Vega small-satellite launcher will fly its final mission tonight, carrying the Sentinel-2C Earth-observing satellite skyward. The European Space Agency (ESA) will webcast the launch live starting at 9:30 p.m. EDT (0130 GMT). Vega stands about 100 feet tall and can deliver 3,300 pounds of payload to a circular orbit 435 miles above Earth. The rocket debuted in February 2012 and has flown a total of 21 missions to date, with 19 successful ones. Tonight’s launch will service Sentinel-2, a mission run by Europe’s Copernicus Earth-observation program. Sentinel-2C is designed to replace Sentinel-2A, which was launched atop a Vega rocket in June 2015.

Factuality Level: 9
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate and objective information about the final mission of Europe’s Vega small-satellite launcher, its specifications, history, and purpose. It also gives details about the Sentinel-2C Earth-observing satellite and the transition to the more powerful Vega C rocket. The information is relevant, well-researched, and free from exaggeration or personal perspective.
Noise Level: 3
Noise Justification: The article provides relevant information about the final mission of Europe’s Vega small-satellite launcher and its replacement with the more powerful Vega C. It also gives details about the Sentinel-2C Earth-observing satellite and the Copernicus Earth-observation program. The content is focused on space news and does not contain irrelevant or misleading information, but it lacks in-depth analysis or actionable insights.
Public Companies: Arianespace (), European Space Agency ()
Key People:

Financial Relevance: No
Financial Markets Impacted: No
Financial Rating Justification: The article discusses the final mission of Europe’s Vega small-satellite launcher and its replacement by the more powerful Vega C, but it does not have a direct impact on financial markets or companies.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: Other
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: No
Extreme Rating Justification: There is no mention of an extreme event in the last 48 hours.
Move Size: No market move size mentioned.
Sector: All
Direction: Neutral
Magnitude: No
Affected Instruments: Stocks

Image source: Avialuh (based on work of Lucabon) / F9 wiki pages.

Reported publicly: www.space.com