Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE) has awarded a contract to SpaceLaunch for the launch of its Amazonia-1B Earth observation satellite aboard a Vega C rocket in 2027.
Airbus will launch its first Pléiades Neo Next satellite early 2028 from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. The satellite will be launched on an Avio’s Vega C rocket.With the Pléiades Neo Next programme, Airbus is reinforcing its Earth Observation capabilities and services to remain at the forefront of geospatial technologies. This new programme will result in new satellite assets and capabilities, including 20-cm-class native resolution.
2026Rideshare:TBD - Swing - Vega C - Kourou ELV
Swing is planned for launch in 2027. Routine data provision is expected to begin in early 2028 via the ESA Space Weather Portal.
VA267 Launch window Liftoff is planned from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on February 12, 2026, as early as possible within the following launch window:* 11:45 a.m. – 12:13 p.m. (Washington D.C.)* 1:45 p.m. – 2:13 p.m. (Kourou)* 4:45 p.m. – 5:13 p.m. (UTC)* 5:45 p.m. – 6:13 p.m. (Paris)Arianespace will launch 32 Amazon Leo satellites, with the first Ariane 64, the four-booster configuration of Ariane 6.The mission will last a total of 1 hour and 54 minutes, from liftoff to separation of the all the satellites.Mission VA267 will mark the first Ariane 6 launch for Amazon Leo, Amazon’s low Earth orbit satellite network whose mission is to deliver fast, reliable internet to customers beyond the reach of existing networks. This flight will be the first in a series of 18 Ariane 6 launches booked supporting the deployment of the constellation.
Quote from: woods170 on 02/04/2026 12:58 pmQuote from: PM3 on 02/03/2026 06:58 pmQuote from: StraumliBlight on 12/07/2025 05:01 pmMaia Space Linkedin [Nov 26]Quote...Adaptation work has already started in French Guiana, where we will operate all our flights from the former Soyuz launch pad (renamed ELM2)https://europeanspaceflight.com/cnes-to-fill-commercial-launch-facility-vacancy-left-by-maiaspace/QuoteAccording to a 29 January call, CNES revealed that MaiaSpace had formally vacated the ELM launch facility in the last quarter of 2025. As a result, the agency is calling for interested launch operators to fill the vacancy left by the ArianeGroup subsidiary.Of note: the reason that MaiaSpace no longer participates in the shared-use ELM is because they were assigned a launch pad all of their own: the former Soyuz ST launch pad at CSG.ELS has been renamed ELM2 and ELD has been renamed ELM1. A third ELM site ELM3 is reserved for design.
Quote from: PM3 on 02/03/2026 06:58 pmQuote from: StraumliBlight on 12/07/2025 05:01 pmMaia Space Linkedin [Nov 26]Quote...Adaptation work has already started in French Guiana, where we will operate all our flights from the former Soyuz launch pad (renamed ELM2)https://europeanspaceflight.com/cnes-to-fill-commercial-launch-facility-vacancy-left-by-maiaspace/QuoteAccording to a 29 January call, CNES revealed that MaiaSpace had formally vacated the ELM launch facility in the last quarter of 2025. As a result, the agency is calling for interested launch operators to fill the vacancy left by the ArianeGroup subsidiary.Of note: the reason that MaiaSpace no longer participates in the shared-use ELM is because they were assigned a launch pad all of their own: the former Soyuz ST launch pad at CSG.
Quote from: StraumliBlight on 12/07/2025 05:01 pmMaia Space Linkedin [Nov 26]Quote...Adaptation work has already started in French Guiana, where we will operate all our flights from the former Soyuz launch pad (renamed ELM2)https://europeanspaceflight.com/cnes-to-fill-commercial-launch-facility-vacancy-left-by-maiaspace/QuoteAccording to a 29 January call, CNES revealed that MaiaSpace had formally vacated the ELM launch facility in the last quarter of 2025. As a result, the agency is calling for interested launch operators to fill the vacancy left by the ArianeGroup subsidiary.
Maia Space Linkedin [Nov 26]Quote...Adaptation work has already started in French Guiana, where we will operate all our flights from the former Soyuz launch pad (renamed ELM2)
...Adaptation work has already started in French Guiana, where we will operate all our flights from the former Soyuz launch pad (renamed ELM2)
According to a 29 January call, CNES revealed that MaiaSpace had formally vacated the ELM launch facility in the last quarter of 2025. As a result, the agency is calling for interested launch operators to fill the vacancy left by the ArianeGroup subsidiary.
Quote from: TheKutKu on 01/15/2026 04:42 pmhttps://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2026/01/15/la-nouvelle-fusee-francaise-maia-securise-son-plan-de-vol-grace-a-la-constellation-d-eutelsat_6662406_3234.htmlQuoteYou can share an article by clicking on the share icons in the top right corner.Reproducing an article, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of Le Monde, is strictly prohibited.For more information, please consult our terms and conditions of sale.For any permission requests, please contact [email protected].As a subscriber, you can gift up to five articles per month to a friend or family member using the "Gift an Article" feature.https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2026/01/15/la-nouvelle-fusee-francaise-maia-securise-son-plan-de-vol-grace-a-la-constellation-d-eutelsat_6662406_3234.htmlMaiaSpace, the ArianeGroup subsidiary launched in 2022 to develop a partially reusable rocket, signed an agreement on Thursday, January 15, with the telecommunications satellite operator Eutelsat, guaranteeing it commercial visibility until 2030. A large portion – the exact number has not been disclosed – of the 440 new satellites ordered by Eutelsat from Airbus to renew or expand its OneWeb constellation fleet will be launched into orbit by the future rocket.The first test launch of Maia is scheduled for the end of 2026, a year later than initially planned, from the Guiana Space Centre. The first flights with OneWeb satellites on board are expected in 2027. The agreement with Eutelsat represents a total of about ten launches.MaiaSpace had already signed two contracts: one in March 2025 with Exotrail for the launch of an orbital transfer vehicle scheduled for 2027; the other in November 2025 for the 2027 launch of the two satellites for the Toutatis mission, a defense system developed by U-Space, a specialist in small satellites, in partnership with the defense company MBDA. But the agreement with Eutelsat is on a different scale. "It secures more than 50% of our order book for Maia's first three years of operation," explains Yohann Leroy, CEO of MaiaSpace.Probably somewhere between 100-200 sats over ~10 flights.Eutelsat Awards MaiaSpace Multi-Launch Contract for OneWeb SatellitesQuoteFrench rocket builder MaiaSpace has signed an agreement with Eutelsat to perform multiple launches to support the expansion of the company’s OneWeb satellite constellation.…Quote On 15 January, MaiaSpace announced that it had secured a multi-launch agreement with Eutelsat to deliver satellites for its OneWeb constellation to low Earth orbit. According to the release, the agreement has the potential to account for “the majority of [the] Maia launch manifest during the first three years of operation.”“This agreement with an experienced and renowned satellite operator confirms that Maia is well-suited for deploying or replenishing satellite broadband constellations,” said MaiaSpace CEO Yohann Leroy. In the aftermath of the ESA ministerial conference, where key decisions were taken on the European Launcher Challenge and access to the European institutional market, MaiaSpace already stands on the two pillars needed for economic viability: being competitive on the commercial market while [being] considered strategic for Europe’s sovereign access to space.”https://europeanspaceflight.com/eutelsat-awards-maiaspace-multi-launch-contract-for-oneweb-satellites/
https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2026/01/15/la-nouvelle-fusee-francaise-maia-securise-son-plan-de-vol-grace-a-la-constellation-d-eutelsat_6662406_3234.htmlQuoteYou can share an article by clicking on the share icons in the top right corner.Reproducing an article, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of Le Monde, is strictly prohibited.For more information, please consult our terms and conditions of sale.For any permission requests, please contact [email protected].As a subscriber, you can gift up to five articles per month to a friend or family member using the "Gift an Article" feature.https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2026/01/15/la-nouvelle-fusee-francaise-maia-securise-son-plan-de-vol-grace-a-la-constellation-d-eutelsat_6662406_3234.htmlMaiaSpace, the ArianeGroup subsidiary launched in 2022 to develop a partially reusable rocket, signed an agreement on Thursday, January 15, with the telecommunications satellite operator Eutelsat, guaranteeing it commercial visibility until 2030. A large portion – the exact number has not been disclosed – of the 440 new satellites ordered by Eutelsat from Airbus to renew or expand its OneWeb constellation fleet will be launched into orbit by the future rocket.The first test launch of Maia is scheduled for the end of 2026, a year later than initially planned, from the Guiana Space Centre. The first flights with OneWeb satellites on board are expected in 2027. The agreement with Eutelsat represents a total of about ten launches.MaiaSpace had already signed two contracts: one in March 2025 with Exotrail for the launch of an orbital transfer vehicle scheduled for 2027; the other in November 2025 for the 2027 launch of the two satellites for the Toutatis mission, a defense system developed by U-Space, a specialist in small satellites, in partnership with the defense company MBDA. But the agreement with Eutelsat is on a different scale. "It secures more than 50% of our order book for Maia's first three years of operation," explains Yohann Leroy, CEO of MaiaSpace.Probably somewhere between 100-200 sats over ~10 flights.
You can share an article by clicking on the share icons in the top right corner.Reproducing an article, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of Le Monde, is strictly prohibited.For more information, please consult our terms and conditions of sale.For any permission requests, please contact [email protected].As a subscriber, you can gift up to five articles per month to a friend or family member using the "Gift an Article" feature.https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2026/01/15/la-nouvelle-fusee-francaise-maia-securise-son-plan-de-vol-grace-a-la-constellation-d-eutelsat_6662406_3234.htmlMaiaSpace, the ArianeGroup subsidiary launched in 2022 to develop a partially reusable rocket, signed an agreement on Thursday, January 15, with the telecommunications satellite operator Eutelsat, guaranteeing it commercial visibility until 2030. A large portion – the exact number has not been disclosed – of the 440 new satellites ordered by Eutelsat from Airbus to renew or expand its OneWeb constellation fleet will be launched into orbit by the future rocket.The first test launch of Maia is scheduled for the end of 2026, a year later than initially planned, from the Guiana Space Centre. The first flights with OneWeb satellites on board are expected in 2027. The agreement with Eutelsat represents a total of about ten launches.MaiaSpace had already signed two contracts: one in March 2025 with Exotrail for the launch of an orbital transfer vehicle scheduled for 2027; the other in November 2025 for the 2027 launch of the two satellites for the Toutatis mission, a defense system developed by U-Space, a specialist in small satellites, in partnership with the defense company MBDA. But the agreement with Eutelsat is on a different scale. "It secures more than 50% of our order book for Maia's first three years of operation," explains Yohann Leroy, CEO of MaiaSpace.
French rocket builder MaiaSpace has signed an agreement with Eutelsat to perform multiple launches to support the expansion of the company’s OneWeb satellite constellation.
On 15 January, MaiaSpace announced that it had secured a multi-launch agreement with Eutelsat to deliver satellites for its OneWeb constellation to low Earth orbit. According to the release, the agreement has the potential to account for “the majority of [the] Maia launch manifest during the first three years of operation.”“This agreement with an experienced and renowned satellite operator confirms that Maia is well-suited for deploying or replenishing satellite broadband constellations,” said MaiaSpace CEO Yohann Leroy. In the aftermath of the ESA ministerial conference, where key decisions were taken on the European Launcher Challenge and access to the European institutional market, MaiaSpace already stands on the two pillars needed for economic viability: being competitive on the commercial market while [being] considered strategic for Europe’s sovereign access to space.”
France expects to launch the demonstrator satellite, called Splinter, in the next 12 to 24 months, Adam said. The overall project, dubbed Toutatis, will also include a low Earth orbit observation satellite called Lisa-1, and the goal is to test operational scenarios.
French satellite-making startup U-Space has tasked MaiaSpace with launching the two-satellite Toutatis demonstration due in 2027, the French Defense Innovation Agency said Nov. 28. The French government last year unveiled the Toutatis program comprising the Lisa-1 space situational awareness and the...
MaiaSpace Has Secured Its First Commercial CustomerBy Andrew Parsonson -March 21, 2025Credit: MaiaSpaceMaiaSpace has signed a multi-launch agreement with Exotrail to launch its Spacevan orbital transfer vehicle to low Earth orbit as early as 2027.French launch startup MaiaSpace has secured its first commercial customer, signing a launch services agreement with in-space logistics company Exotrail.MaiaSpace is developing a small, two-stage, partially reusable rocket called Maia that will be capable of delivering 1,500 kilograms to low Earth orbit when launched in its expendable configuration. With the addition of its Colibri kick stage, the 50-meter Maia rocket will add an additional 1,000 kilograms to its payload capacity. MaiaSpace currently expects to launch the inaugural flight of Maia from the old Soyuz launch facility at the Guiana Space Centre in 2026.On 20 March, MaiaSpace announced that it had signed a multi-launch agreement with Exotrail to carry its Spacevan orbital transfer vehicle from “as early as 2027.”“Securing our first commercial contract less than three years after the creation of MaiaSpace is a major step forward, demonstrating our commitment to offering our customers the most competitive space launch service in its category,” said MaiaSpace CEO Yohann Leroy.To date, Exotrail has completed one Spacevan mission, launched aboard a SpaceX flight in November 2023. The vehicle successfully deployed the EXO-0 CubeSat into low Earth orbit for Endurosat about three months later.In November 2024, the company signed a contract with Arianespace to deploy a “geostationary version” of Spacevan into a geostationary transfer orbit in the second half of 2026 aboard an Ariane 64 as an auxiliary payload.According to a 20 March Exotrail press release, the company has “secured” three missions: one to geostationary orbit aboard Ariane 6 and two to low Earth orbit, which will be launched aboard Maia rockets.“At Exotrail, the Spacevan manifest is building up, and we are thrilled to team up with a trusted partner such as MaiaSpace for our access to space,” said Exotrail CEO Jean-Luc Maria.
2031TBD - Aeolus-2 - Vega C - Kourou ELV
According to EUMETSAT, Aeolus-2 will consist of two satellites, launched sequentially, each carrying a Doppler Wind Lidar instrument. The instrument is unique in being the first space-based Doppler wind lidar capable of measuring global wind profiles from the lower atmosphere up to the stratosphere, at altitudes of around 40 kilometres. Each satellite is designed to have a lifespan of between 5.5 and 7 years, with the two satellites together expected to provide more than ten years of continuous operations. The launch of the first 2.5-tonne Aeolus-2 satellite is currently expected in 2034.
2028Foreign launchers:TBD - Ramses (Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety) (ESA/JAXA), Satis - H3 - Tanegashima
OHB Italia And ESA Sign The Contract For The Ramses Mission [Feb 10]QuoteThe launch is scheduled for April 2028, with a rendezvous with Apophis planned for February 2029, approximately two months before its close approach to Earth.
The launch is scheduled for April 2028, with a rendezvous with Apophis planned for February 2029, approximately two months before its close approach to Earth.
Arianespace @ArianespaceMission VA267: Relive the liftoff of mission VA267.Ariane 6, in its Ariane 64 configuration, just lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, carrying 32 @Amazonleo satellites into Low Earth Orbit.▶️ Watch the replay of this incredible lift off.This launch marked the first Arianespace mission supporting the deployment of @Amazonleo, Amazon’s Low Earth Orbit satellite constellation whose mission is to deliver fast, reliable internet to customers beyond the reach of existing networks.The mission continues…
Arianespace successfully launches 32 Amazon Leo satellites with the first Ariane 6412.02.2026 On February 12, 2026, with the first Ariane 64, the most powerful version of Ariane 6 equipped with four boosters, Arianespace placed into orbit 32 satellites for Amazon Leo. Amazon Leo is Amazon's Low Earth Orbit satellite network, whose mission is to deliver fast, reliable internet to customers beyond the reach of existing networks. The VA267 mission kicks-off the first of a series of 18 Ariane 6 launches contracted by Amazon Leo. Designated LE-01 (Leo Europe 01) by Amazon, it was the first launch for the constellation performed with a European launcher. With this first launch in 4-boosters configuration, Ariane 6, Europe's heavy-lift launcher, demonstrates its full-power capability and its ability to meet the requirements of large-scale constellation deployments.On February 12, 2026 at 1:45 p.m. local time (4:45 p.m. UTC, 5:45 p.m. CET), Arianespace successfully launched 32 Amazon Leo satellites with Ariane 64 from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. The satellites were delivered to a low Earth orbit, at an altitude of approximately 465 km. The mission lasted 1 hour and 54 minutes, from lift-off to separation of all the satellites.The mission, called VA267 (LE-01 for Amazon Leo), initiated the first of 18 Ariane 6 launches booked to support the deployment of the Amazon Leo constellation. It also marked the first launch for the constellation performed by a European launcher.David Cavaillolès, Arianespace's CEO said “Today's successful flight marks a major milestone for Arianespace, for our customer Amazon Leo and for the whole European space sector. With the first flight of Ariane 64, Europe's heavy-lift launcher has demonstrated its ability to deliver the most demanding large-scale constellation missions. We are proud to support Amazon Leo with a reliable, high-performance European launch solution as we begin a series of 18 missions enabling the deployment of their constellation. We thank Amazon Leo for their confidence and are proud to support them as a trusted launch partner.”Martin Sion, ArianeGroup's CEO announced “This new success is a major milestone for the development of Ariane 6 as it was the first flight in the four-booster version. This successful entry into service once again highlights the quality of the teams at ArianeGroup and its European partners. Now, Europe has two versions of Ariane 6 heavy launcher to meet all of its needs. Our teams are already working to improve the launcher's competitiveness through the development of evolutions that will increase its payload capacity. In 2026, we will therefore accelerate production and integrate major improvements so that Ariane 6 will be even better.”For this new range of constellation-type missions, Ariane 6 incorporates various adaptations to accommodate the increased payload mass.Flight VA267, the first launch of Ariane 6 in its four-booster configuration, carried the heaviest payload ever placed into orbit by the European launcher. During this mission, Ariane 6 delivered around 20 metric tons into orbit – about twice the payload capacity of the two-booster Ariane 62 variant. It demonstrates the full-power capability of Ariane 6 and its ability to meet the requirements of large-scale constellation deployments.Ariane 6 also flew for the first time with its long fairing configuration. During this mission, the 32 Amazon Leo satellites were accommodated under a 20-meter-high fairing, giving the launcher a height of 62 meters.This flight VA267 is a major milestone for the development of Ariane 6 under the European Space Agency's oversight.VA267 at a glance: 359th launch by Arianespace, 1st Arianespace launch in 2026 6th Ariane 6 launch and 1st launch of Ariane 64, its most powerful configuration, and 1st use of Ariane 6's long fairing 1st Arianespace launch for Amazon Leo, within a series of 18 1st Ariane 6 launch for a commercial customer
Deep Space Energy is targeting a demonstration flight in 2029, likely with an electric emulator on board instead of radioisotopes—a strategy to earn flight heritage without having to wait for regulatory approval to fly nuclear materials in space.
Lukas C. H. @GewoonLukas_Mission success for Amazon Leo LE-01 and the 1st Ariane 64! This was the 1st of 18 Amazon Leo launches on Ariane 6, and Arianespace has confirmed that the next will be another for Amazon! It looks like Amazon has already shipped the satellites to French Guyana on January 23rd.
2026MTG-I2 - May-AugustMetop-SG B1 - June-AugustSentinel-3C - September-November
EUMETSAT Agency Summary...Approved MissionstimelineMission Launch MTG-I2 (imaging) Jun 2026METOP-SG B1 Jul 2026Sentinel-3 C Oct 2026Sentinel CO2M-A Nov 2027JPSS-4 Dec 2027Sentinel CO2M-B Mar 2028Sentinel CRISTAL-A Sep 2028Sentinel-3 D Dec 2028Sentinel CO2M-C Jun 2029Sentinel CIMR-A Sep 2029JPSS-3 Dec 2032Sentinel-5 B Feb 2033METOP-SG A2 Feb 2033METOP-SG B2 Feb 2033MTG-I3 (imaging) Feb 2033Sentinel CRISTAL-B Jun 2034Sentinel CIMR-B Mar 2035MTG-S2 (sounding) Sep 2035Sentinel-4 B Sep 2035MTG-I4 (imaging) Aug 2036Sentinel-5 C May 2039METOP-SG A3 May 2039METOP-SG B3 Feb 2040Planned MissionstimelineMission LaunchEPS-Sterna 2029Sentinel-6 C 2030S3NGT-A 2034S3NGO-A 2035S3NGT-B 2036S3NGO-B 2037Considered MissionstimelineMission Launch EPS-Aeolus 2034
ESA Agency Summary...Approved MissionstimelineMission Launch FLEX Mar 2026MTG-I2 (imaging) Jun 2026NIMBUS-SAR Jun 2026NOX-SAR Jun 2026PLATINO-HYPER Jun 2026NIMBUS-VHR Jun 2026METOP-SG B1 Jul 2026Sentinel-3 C Oct 2026FORUM Dec 2026ALTIUS Sep 2027Sentinel CO2M-A Nov 2027Sentinel CO2M-B Mar 2028Sentinel-2 D Jun 2028Sentinel CRISTAL-A Sep 2028Sentinel-3 D Dec 2028Sentinel LSTM-A Dec 2028SOL-A Jun 2029Sentinel ROSE-L A Jun 2029Sentinel CO2M-C Jun 2029Sentinel CIMR-A Sep 2029Sentinel CHIME-A Sep 2029Harmony Dec 2029Sentinel LSTM-B Sep 2030Sentinel ROSE-L B Jun 2031TRUTHS Sep 2031Sentinel CHIME-B Sep 2031MAGIC/MCDO Dec 2032Sentinel-5 B Feb 2033METOP-SG A2 Feb 2033METOP-SG B2 Feb 2033MTG-I3 (imaging) Feb 2033Sentinel CRISTAL-B Jun 2034Sentinel CIMR-B Mar 2035MTG-S2 (sounding) Sep 2035Sentinel-4 B Sep 2035MTG-I4 (imaging) Aug 2036Sentinel-5 C May 2039METOP-SG A3 May 2039METOP-SG B3 Feb 2040Planned MissionstimelineMission LaunchEPS-Sterna 2029Sentinel-6 C 2030MAGIC/NGGM 2032S1NG-A 2033S2NG-A 2033S1NG-B 2034S3NGT-A 2034S3NGO-A 2035S2NG-B 2035S3NGT-B 2036S3NGO-B 2037Considered MissionstimelineMission Launch EPS-Aeolus 2034
ASI Agency Summary...Approved MissionstimelineMission Launch NIMBUS-SAR Jun 2026NOX-SAR Jun 2026PLATINO-HYPER Jun 2026NIMBUS-VHR Jun 2026PLT-1 Nov 2026CSG-4 Dec 2026PLT-2 Jun 2027PRISMA2GEN Dec 2029Planned MissionstimelineMission Launch SBG-TIR 2029SAOCOM-2 2031Considered MissionstimelineMission Launch GEOSAR 2031
DLR Agency Summary...Approved MissionstimelineMission Launch GRACE-C Dec 2028MERLIN Feb 2029METOP-SG A2 Feb 2033METOP-SG A3 May 2039Considered MissionstimelineMission Launch TanDEM-L 2028CO2Image 2030TerraSAR-Fox 2032
2027Late - FLEX [Earth Explorer 8], ALTIUS - Vega C - Kourou ELV
Launch Date: 2028
The photograph shows the first Copernicus Anthropogenic Carbon Dioxide Monitoring (CO2M) satellite being prepped for testing in the thermal-vacuum chamber at Thales Alenia Space’s facilities in Cannes, France.
The photograph shows the second Copernicus Anthropogenic Carbon Dioxide Monitoring (CO2M) satellite’s spectrometer optics – fully assembled and awaiting integration in its thermal guard at Thales Alenia Space’s facilities in Cannes, France.
At ESA’s 2025 Ministerial Conference, the Space Safety Programme received significant support for its mission to predict, detect and mitigate space hazards, and to build towards a sustainable future in orbit. This is what we’re working on 👇
