➀ The European Space Agency (ESA) has successfully launched the VEGA-C rocket and its Copernicus Sentinel-1C satellite, which has provided the first radar images of Earth. The satellite features a state-of-the-art C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) instrument. ➁ Sentinel-1C will orbit 700km above the Earth’s surface and provide high-resolution imagery day and night, in all weather conditions. ➂ The satellite will play a vital role in marine surveillance, including oil-spill detection and maritime security.