@esa #EarthObservation: Taking the pulse of our planet from space. Please see our Privacy Notice: esa.int/connectwithus
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Two satellites launched, two signals received 📡
FLEX and @CopernicusEU Sentinel-3C are both in orbit and in contact with ground teams.
✅ Signals acquired. FLEX and Sentinel-3C are in orbit and healthy.
Following launch on Vega-C, the two Earth observation satellites now begin commissioning. Together, they will advance our understanding of Earth's vegetation and support the continued monitoring of our oceans, land, ice and atmosphere. 🌍
🔗 esa.int/Applications/Observi…
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ESA's FLEX has joined the chat✅
First contact with our newest Earth Explorer has been established.
We hear you! @esa 's #FLEX spacecraft has phoned home. 📞
At 5:22 CEST, teams at #ESOC mission control acquired the first signal from the spacecraft via @KSAT_Kongsberg 's Svalbard station. 📡
We now have signal from both spacecraft in this unique dual launch. 🛰️🛰️
📷 ESA/ATG medialab
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End of the line for FLEX! 🛰️
@esa's FLEX satellite has separated from Vega-C and is officially flying solo.
Thanks for the ride, @ESA_transport 👋
We’ve reached the end of the line, all passengers, please leave the vehicle!
FLEX has now detached from the Vespa+R adapter and is on its way to its sun-synchronous orbit.
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And… we’re connected!
@CopernicusEU Sentinel-3C has just sent back its first signall! 📢
Hello @CopernicusEU #Sentinel-3C – we hear you loud and clear!
@KSAT_Kongsburg's Troll ground station in Antarctica has acquired the satellite's first signal from space. 📡
Telemetry is now flowing into @esa's #ESOC mission control in Germany. 🛰️
📷 ESA/ATG medialab
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Update from space ✨
@CopernicusEU Sentinel-3C just separated from the Vega-C rocket, leaving onboard only the FLEX spacecraft, due to separate later.
Bye-bye, Sentinel-3C! Tonight's first payload has just left the Vega-C rocket. Have a safe trip. We can't wait to see all the data you'll collect.
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ESA Earth Observation retweeted
Liftoff! 🚀 FLEX and Sentinel-3C are on their way.
Vega-C #VV30 has departed Europe’s Spaceport carrying the two Earth observation satellites into orbit.
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ESA Earth Observation retweeted
🔴 Live now: follow the launch of FLEX and Sentinel-3C.
🔗 piped.video/watch?v=fmrgyh5s…
FLEX and Sentinel-3C are ready for liftoff on Vega-C from Europe's Spaceport.
▶️ Tune in tonight on 15 September from 02:50 CEST.
🚀 Liftoff is scheduled for 03:21 CEST.
While the FLEX mission will monitor the health of Earth’s vegetation, Sentinel-3C, together with the two Sentinel-3 satellites already in orbit, will monitor oceans, land, ice and atmosphere for Copernicus, the Earth observation component of the European Union’s Space Programme.
🔗esa.int/Applications/Observi…
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Almost time for FLEX and @CopernicusEU Sentinel-3C 🚀
Tune in from 02:50 CEST on 15 September to follow the dual launch!👇
FLEX and Sentinel-3C are ready for liftoff on Vega-C from Europe's Spaceport.
▶️ Tune in tonight on 15 September from 02:50 CEST.
🚀 Liftoff is scheduled for 03:21 CEST.
While the FLEX mission will monitor the health of Earth’s vegetation, Sentinel-3C, together with the two Sentinel-3 satellites already in orbit, will monitor oceans, land, ice and atmosphere for Copernicus, the Earth observation component of the European Union’s Space Programme.
🔗esa.int/Applications/Observi…
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ESA Earth Observation retweeted
Success! ✅ MTG-I2 is on its way to geostationary orbit.
After acquiring signal, the satellite has been confirmed healthy.
As the third satellite in the Meteosat Third Generation constellation, MTG-I2 will provide weather forecasters with unprecedented views of Europe and Africa, helping to improve forecasts and deliver earlier warnings of severe weather.
🔗 esa.int/Newsroom/Press_Relea…
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Thanks for the ride, @ESA_transport!
MTG-I2 just separated from Ariane 6.
The satellite will now slowly move from Geostationary Transfer orbit to Geostationary orbit, its destination.
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ESA Earth Observation retweeted
LIFTOFF! 🚀 Ariane 6 #VA270, launching MTG-I2, completing Europe's Meteosat constellation.
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A @CopernicusEU Sentinel‑3 snapshot of Europe’s land surface temperatures (23 June):
Purple = hottest spots
Madrid 48°C, Tunis 49°C, Zaragoza 46°C, Poitier 46°C, Rome 44°C 🔥
esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Image…
ALT Map of Europe and Northern Africa showing land surface temperatures on 23 June 2026. Large areas of Spain, France and Italy are shaded red and purple, indicating higher temperatures, while cooler regions appear in blue. A temperature scale ranges from 10°C to over 55°C.
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Good news: economic growth doesn’t have to come at the expense of air quality. Using @CopernicusEU Sentinel-5P data, researchers found many major cities are growing while cutting NO₂ - read the full story⬇️
esa.int/Applications/Observi…
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Are you feeling the heat too?🥵
A heatwave is driving temperatures far above average across much of Western Europe and the UK, with record May temperatures reported in several countries.
This map shows land surface temperatures across Europe, using @CopernicusEU Sentinel-3 data from 26 May 2026.
🔗esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Image…
ALT Map of Europe showing land surface temperatures on 26 May 2026, with a colour scale ranging from blue (cooler, below 10 °C) to dark red (very hot, above 50 °C). Large areas of Western and Southern Europe appear in orange and red, indicating high surface temperatures during a heatwave, particularly over Spain, France, Italy and the UK. Northern and northeastern regions, including Scandinavia and parts of Eastern Europe, are shown in lighter colours and blue, indicating cooler conditions. Major cities including London, Paris, Madrid, Rome and Budapest are marked.
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Two national EO missions were launched yesterday onboard a @SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket:
🛰️Italy's @IrideSpazio (esa.int/Applications/Observi…)
🛰️Greece's Hellenic Fire System (esa.int/Applications/Observi…)
Credits: SpaceX
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ESA Earth Observation retweeted
Following the mandate given by our Member States to step up @ESA’s role in security and defence, this agreement marks a meaningful move from intent to delivery. Through initiatives such as the European Resilience from Space (ERS), ESA is already responding to Europe’s urgent security capability needs.
Strengthening our partnership with the @EUDefenceAgency allows us to align technology development more closely with both current and future operational and strategic requirements.
👩🚀 On 22 April, we signed an arrangement with
@esa to better study space-based Earth observation technology for #security and #defence.
➡️ Read more: tinyurl.com/2utscdyd
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It's hot - and we can "see" it from space: On 21 March, Copernicus Sentinel-3 measured widespread land surface temperatures exceeding 40°C🥵
Recent extreme heat across the central and southwestern US and Mexico pushed ground temperatures far above seasonal norms according to @NOAA data.
These extreme temperatures and winter rain have triggered a super bloom in some areas. On 20 March 2026, satellites captured expanded flower cover across Antelope Valley and Grass Valley — a rare burst of colour driven by the same unusual conditions.
ALT Map showing land surface temperatures across the U.S. and Mexico on 21 March 2026, with intense red heat over the Southwest and Mexico and cooler blue tones in northern and eastern regions.
ALT Satellite image of Antelope Valley (on 20 March) featuring a patchwork of agricultural fields and desert terrain, with geometric plots bordered by nearby mountains.
ALT Satellite image of Grass Valley (on 20 March) showing a rugged desert landscape with rocky outcrops and sandy flats in shades of brown, red, and yellow.
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ESA Earth Observation retweeted
#MediaInvitation: journalists are invited to join a one‑off opportunity to see three ESA-built satellites in their final preparations before liftoff, at @Thales_Alenia_S, Cannes, on 16 April 2026.
Register by 31 March 👉 esa.int/Newsroom/Press_Relea…
ALT The Second MTG-Imager in the thermal vacuum chamber, at Thales Alenia Space's Cannes clean room.
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France has endured 35 consecutive days of rain.
One striking example:
According to @Vigicrues, the Garonne at Marmande rose from 3.50 m on 10 February to over 10 m by 14 February.
Here are 3 images that show the impact of the heavy rainfall from space:
• Accumulated rainfall map (9–18 February 2026) using data from the @NASA/@JAXA_en GPM mission
• Sentinel‑1 radar image (flooded areas in red)
• Sentinel‑2 true‑colour view of the same region
Our thoughts are with the communities affected as the region continues to face challenging conditions.
ALT Graph showing accumulated rainfail between 9-17 February 2026
ALT Copernicus Sentinel‑1 radar image showing flooded areas in red
ALT Copernicus Sentinel‑2 true‑colour view of the same region
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