A Vega C rocket is set to launch two important European satellites from the spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on September 14 at 9:21 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). This corresponds to 10:21 p.m. local time in Kourou and 0121 GMT on September 15. The launch will be broadcast live on Space.com and the European Space Agency (ESA) website, with coverage beginning at 8:50 p.m. EDT. One of the satellites, called FLEX, weighs 397 kilograms (875 pounds) and is designed to detect and monitor vegetation fluorescence, which is a faint light emitted by plants during photosynthesis. This capability will help scientists better understand the global carbon cycle, improve agricultural practices, and support food security, according to ESA. The second satellite, Copernicus Sentinel-3C, weighs 1,114 kilograms (2,520 pounds) and is part of the European Union's Copernicus program, which focuses on Earth observation. Sentinel-3C will join the existing Sentinel-3A and Sentinel-3B satellites, launched in 2016 and 2018, respectively. This satellite will carry advanced instruments to monitor Earth's oceans, land, ice, and atmosphere, providing valuable data for weather forecasting and ocean research. Both satellites are expected to be deployed at an altitude of approximately 820 kilometers (509 miles) about 116 minutes after launch, assuming everything proceeds as planned. The Vega C rocket, which stands 35 meters tall, made its debut in July 2022 and has successfully completed six out of seven flights. Originally operated by Arianespace, the rocket is now managed by the Italian company Avio, and this upcoming launch will be the second one handled by Avio.