For its third launch of the year, which will be the initial mission in 2016 utilizing a Soyuz launcher from the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana, Arianespace will orbit the Sentinel-1B satellite for the Copernicus program, on behalf of the European Commission and within the scope of a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA). Also to be orbited on the mission are the French CNES space agency‘s Microscope satellite, and three CubSats for Fly Your Satellite! an ESA Education and Knowledge Management Office’s program.

As shown by this launch, Arianespace continues to address Europe’s need for reliable and independent access to space.