New launch date set for Sentinel-2A

The second satellite in Europe's Copernicus programme is set for launch from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on 23 June at 01:52 GMT (03:52 CEST 23 June; 22:52 local time 22 June).

Fuelling of the satellite was completed yesterday at the launch site.

An ESA and industry advisory board meeting over the past few days signed off on an investigation into Vega's fairing separation and the replacement of a gas pressure sensor on the vehicle, allowing the new launch date to be confirmed.

Sentinel-2 carries an innovative wide-swath, high-resolution multispectral imager with 13 spectral bands for a new perspective of our land and vegetation. The second in the two-satellite mission – Sentinel-2B – is being prepared for launch in 2016.