A European Vega-C rocket successfully launched two Earth-observation satellites, FLEX and Sentinel-3C, from French Guiana.

The satellites were deployed about 509 miles above Earth and reached orbit roughly two hours after liftoff.

FLEX will study plant health by measuring fluorescent signals produced during photosynthesis, providing new information about how vegetation responds to environmental changes.

Sentinel-3C will monitor Earth’s oceans, land surfaces, ice and atmosphere as part of Europe’s Copernicus environmental-monitoring program, Space.com has reported.

The successful launch expands Europe’s ability to observe and study changes occurring across Earth’s environment.