The Sentinel-2C satellite lifted off on 5 September. In ESA’s operations center (ESOC) the mission controllers were ready after lots of preparation and the last round of simulation training.

The Copernicus Sentinel-2C satellite is a mission that delivers high-resolution optical imagery using two identical satellites, Sentinel-2A and Sentinel-2B, orbiting 180° apart. Together, they cover Earth’s land and coastal waters every five days, capturing detailed images across 13 spectral bands. Sentinel-2C, the third satellite in the series, is replacing Sentinel-2A, ensuring continued, uninterrupted monitoring for Copernicus Services.

Before the liftoff, the ESOC team in Germany was busy polishing every detail, to ensure a successful launch. They describe it as a space version of a blockbuster heist movie, with over 50 engineers and scientists working together to make sure the mission would go off without a hitch.

Running the game from the basement at ESOC, the team of Sentinel-2C simulation officers led by SSC’s LSE Aerospace Engineer, Gustavo Bardo Carvalho, are the masterminds behind these simulations. “We are just like a D&D master, throwing “monsters” (anomalies) at the team to see how they handle the chaos”. From hypothetical missing team members and data errors to ground station failures and space debris alerts, Gustavo and his team ensured they faced everything under the sun—and beyond.

The final dress rehearsal day occurred a few days before the launch with teams from ESOC, industry partners and Arianespace in Kourou. That exercise covered everything from countdown to launch, with the control team receiving live signals from the satellite and testing communications with real ground stations. With this last test, the mission control team was primed and ready for the real deal, a nominal and safe LEOP.