ESA prepares dual-mission launch of FLEX and Sentinel-3C on 15 September
On 15 September, ESA will launch FLEX and Sentinel-3C together from Kourou aboard the same launcher. The two spacecraft will operate in closely related orbits, requiring two independent mission teams at ESA's European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) to prepare and operate in parallel with closely coordinated efforts. ESA states this is a unique challenge because, unlike previous dual launches such as Herschel and Planck in 2009 that were managed by a combined team, these two missions will operate independently but simultaneously in essentially the same orbit. The teams are rehearsing through joint simulation exercises that test both routine and contingency scenarios, including situations where both missions might need shared resources at the same time.
