ESA's FLEX satellite and the Copernicus Sentinel-3C satellite are being prepared for encapsulation in a Vega-C fairing at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana, according to a report published on 2 September 2026.

The two satellites are fitted inside the fairing using a secondary payload adapter called Vespa. FLEX sits below and Sentinel-3C above, an arrangement ESA says is deliberately designed so that Sentinel-3C can be deployed first.

A photo released with the report shows Sentinel-3C fixed to the top of the adapter. The image is credited to ESA-CNES-AVIO/Optique vidéo du CSG–S. Martin under the ESA Standard Licence. No launch date is given in the report.