Vega Flight VV04, the Arianespace Vega mission with Europe’s Sentinel-2A Earth observation satellite is now underway following tonight's liftoff from the Spaceport in French Guiana. 

‏@Arianespace Another spectacular #Vega liftoff from French Guiana! Stay tuned for more #VV05 information #GoVegaGo

Sentinel-2A is the latest satellite for Europe’s Copernicus initiative. It will be deployed into a Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of approximately 786 km., concluding a flight sequence lasting 54 min., 43 sec.

This lightweight member of Arianespace’s launch vehicle family—in which it joins the medium-lift Soyuz and heavyweight Ariane 5—now stands in a flight-ready configuration at the Spaceport’s ZLV launch site. It was protected by a mobile gantry that rolled back beginning at 2 hrs., 40 min. prior to liftoff.

Sentinel-2A is the latest satellite for Europe’s ambitious Copernicus initiative, which is headed by the European Commission in partnership with the European Space Agency. After liftoff, this Airbus Defence and Space-produced spacecraft will be deployed into a Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of approximately 786 km. – concluding the planned flight sequence of 54 min., 43 sec. 

Tonight’s flight—designated VV05—will mark Arianespace’s fifth mission in 2015 using a member of its launcher family. It follows two previous flights for Ariane 5, plus one each with Soyuz and Vega.