CHELMSFORD, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 15, 2026--
Teledyne Space Imaging technology was successfully launched aboard two major European Space Agency (ESA) Earth observation missions; Sentinel-3C and the Fluorescence Explorer (FLEX). The satellites launched together this morning aboard a Vega C rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
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Sentinel-3C: Continuing long-term Earth observation
Designed and developed by ESA, and operated by EUMETSAT, Sentinel-3C is the third satellite in the Sentinel-3 series. The Sentinel missions are part of Copernicus, the EU Space Programme’s Earth observation campaign.
Teledyne supplied five CCD55-20 detectors for Sentinel-3C’s Ocean and Land Colour Instrument (OLCI). The detectors – back-illuminated, frame transfer CCDs optimised for hyperspectral imaging – observe in the visible to NIR, from 0.4 to 1.04 µm, and will assist with mapping ocean colour, vegetation cover, and land use.
Elinor Mitchell, Product Engineering Team Leader of the CCD55-20 at Teledyne Space Imaging, said, “We’re delighted to see the successful launch of Sentinel-3C, and our imaging technology continuing to play a vital role in helping support ocean forecasting systems, environmental monitoring and observing changes in atmospheric composition.”
Sentinel-3A was launched in 2016 and Sentinel-3B followed in 2018. Once fully commissioned, Sentinel-3C is expected to take over from Sentinel-3A, helping to ensure continuity of observations from the Sentinel-3 programme.
FLEX: Observing vegetation from space
ESA’s Fluorescence Explorer (FLEX) launched alongside Sentinel-3C.
Teledyne supplied three CCD325 detectors for the satellite’s Fluorescence Imaging Spectrometer (FLORIS). These detectors image in the spectral range from 0.5 to 0.78 µm. The imaging sensors have been engineered to measure the fluorescent signal given off by plants during photosynthesis. The amount of fluorescence will provide information on the plant’s photosynthetic efficiency, health, and stress. By measuring this signal, its strength also serves as a direct indicator of how much carbon dioxide is being pulled from the atmosphere during this natural process and will help us understand how well an ecosystem is working.
This data will offer scientists new information about the health and functioning of terrestrial vegetation and how plants interact with the wider Earth system – such as carbon and water cycles – processes that are essential for life on this planet.
Tracy Phillips, Principal Project Manager of the CCD325 at Teledyne Space Imaging, said, “Seeing FLEX successfully launch is an exciting moment for our team and everyone who has contributed to the mission. FLEX will give scientists a new way to observe the process of photosynthesis and understand the movement of carbon between plants and our atmosphere. We’re proud that Teledyne detectors will play a key role in generating data that will support important topics such as agricultural management and food security.”
Sentinel-3C and FLEX are developed and procured by the European Space Agency. The view expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Space Agency.
About TeledyneSpace Imaging
Teledyne Space Imaging of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY) has a distinguished legacy in developing space-qualified imaging sensors, focal plane arrays, and integrated camera systems for leading space agencies and observatories including NASA, ESA, JAXA, and KASA. Its heritage spans more than 250 space projects, along with a wide range of commercial space applications. Teledyne Space Imaging designs, tests and manufactures a range of CCD, CMOS, and IR detectors with optical filters and package options to meet every performance requirement.
About Teledyne
Teledyne is a leading provider of sophisticated digital imaging products and software, instrumentation, aerospace and defense electronics, and engineered systems. Teledyne's operations are primarily located in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Western and Northern Europe. For more information, visit Teledyne’s website at www.teledyne.com
Teledyne's CCD325 detector used aboard FLEX
NEW YORK (AP) — Four supporting acts, including all scheduled opening acts, quit Ed Sheeran’s tour on Tuesday after the rapper Macklemore was removed for pro-Palestinian comments onstage during a recent show.
Hours after Sheeran posted on social media about Macklemore's ouster and attributed the decision to the tour's promoters, Irish acts Aaron Rowe and Beoga, the Danish band Lukas Graham, and Finneas posted on Instagram that they would withdraw from Sheeran’s tour.
Rowe was one of Macklemore’s replacements for Sheeran’s remaining U.S. dates, while Beoga was serving as Sheeran’s touring band. Finneas, who is Billie Eilish’s brother and musical collaborator, was due to tour with Sheeran in South America later this year.
Rowe and Beoga each cited their country’s history in their statements explaining their decision.
“We are Irish people who understand colonialism. As founding members of the Irish Artists for Palestine movement, we are committed activists for justice and will continue to be,” Beoga said.
Rowe called Sheeran a friend and said he’d changed his life.
“But as Irish people we know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation,” he said, saying he could not “stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up.”
Finneas, who has publicly advocated for Palestinians in the past, reiterated his support.
“Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed,” he wrote.
Lukas Graham, meanwhile, expressed gratitude toward Sheeran and called it “a difficult decision.”
“Money doesn’t give you the right to own the conversation. Nobody’s bank balance should decide who gets to speak or which suffering we’re allowed to acknowledge,” the band posted, seemingly referring to billionaire Robert Kraft’s role in Macklemore’s removal from the tour.
Emails seeking comment were sent to Sheeran.
Sheeran weighed in on Macklemore being dropped as his opening act after the rapper made pro-Palestinian comments onstage during their tour, saying the decision was made by the promoters alone. The British singer also said he refused to be drawn into a public discussion about the war in Gaza.
“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine,” Sheeran wrote on Instagram on Tuesday. “I would never let down the fans who had made plans, nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living."
The tour’s promoter, the Messina Touring Group, did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment Tuesday. Macklemore's publicist also did not immediately respond.
Sheeran's statement came a day after Macklemore said he was kicked off the Loop Tour after exclaiming “Free Palestine!” during the Sept. 5 date at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium while introducing his protest song “Hind’s Hall.”
“To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters, criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide, it in no way is criticism of you,” he said during the concert.
Macklemore said Monday on Instagram that several U.S. venues told the promoter they would prohibit him from performing as Sheeran’s opening act, rallied by Robert Kraft, owner of NFL’s New England Patriots. His Kraft Group also owns Gillette Stadium, where the Patriots play.
In a statement Monday, Kraft said the decision to cancel Macklemore was a result of his recent comments “and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community.”
Sheeran said in his latest post that he “spoke with the venues at length all week to try to build a bridge,” but that “the venue's and promoter's decision was final.”
A growing chorus of organizations and experts say Israel’s wartime actions in Gaza amount to genocide — an accusation Israel vehemently rejects.
Macklemore was scheduled to perform at eight of the 10 shows Sheeran has remaining on his stadium tour, which is scheduled to resume Saturday in Philadelphia. Ahead are stops at Gillette Stadium, Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium.
In his social media statement, Sheeran said he tries to use his music to “bring people from all backgrounds and cultures together” and that while he has personal views about “this devastating conflict,” he chooses not to speak publicly because people who come to his shows “do not expect a political forum.” He added: “I am not complicit.”
“I respect Macklemore’s strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes," Sheeran added. "However, there is room for multiple approaches to the same end: peace. I choose to use my fame and platform to be a place of safety and sanctuary, to maintain diplomacy and keep conversations open, not closed.”
FILE - Macklemore performs at Austin City Limits Live during the South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas on March 17, 2023. (Photo by Jack Plunkett/Invision/AP, File)
FILE - Lukas Forchhammer of the band Lukas Graham appears at th World Mental Health Day Gala in New York on Oct. 9, 2025. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
FILE - Finneas arrives at the second season premiere of "Beef" in Los Angeles on April 8, 2026. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
FILE - Aaron Rowe performs during the Glastonbury Festival in Worthy Farm, Somerset, England, on June 26, 2025. (Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP, File)
Recording artist Macklemore appears on ABC's "Good Morning America" Summer Concert Series in Central Park in New York on July 22, 2022, left, and Ed Sheeran appears at the premiere of the film "F1 The Movie" in London on June 23, 2025. (AP Photo)
FILE - Macklemore performs at Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater during the South by Southwest Music Festival, March 17, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jack Plunkett/Invision/AP, File)
FILE - Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran performs during "Ed Sheeran's Play: Live from New York" presented by TikTok at Domino Square in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Sept. 13, 2025. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP, File)
