Approved Missions timeline Mission Launch Sentinel-1 C Dec 2024Biomass Mar 2025ALTIUS May 2025HydroGNSS May 2025Sentinel-1 D Jun 2025Sentinel-4 A Jun 2025MTG-S1 Jun 2025METOP-SG A1 Oct 2025Sentinel-5 A Oct 2025Sentinel-6 B Dec 2025FLEX Mar 2026Sentinel-3 C Jun 2026METOP-SG B1 Jul 2026MTG-I2 Sep 2026Sentinel CO2M-B Mar 2027FORUM Aug 2027Sentinel CO2M-A Nov 2027Sentinel-2 D Sep 2028Sentinel CRISTAL-A Nov 2028Sentinel-3 D Dec 2028Sentinel LSTM-A Mar 2029Sentinel ROSE-L A Sep 2029Sentinel CIMR-A Oct 2029Harmony Dec 2029Sentinel CHIME-A Dec 2029TRUTHS Mar 2030Sentinel LSTM-B Mar 2031Sentinel ROSE-L B Sep 2031Sentinel CHIME-B Dec 2031MAGIC/MCDO Dec 2032METOP-SG B2 Feb 2033METOP-SG A2 Feb 2033Sentinel-5 B Feb 2033MTG-I3 Feb 2033Sentinel CRISTAL-B Nov 2033Sentinel CIMR-B Oct 2034Sentinel-4 B Dec 2035MTG-S2 Dec 2035MTG-I4 Dec 2036Sentinel-5 C May 2039METOP-SG A3 May 2039METOP-SG B3 Feb 2040Planned: Mission financing is available for pre-development (through Phase B). These missions display estimated year of launch and EOL timeline Mission LaunchSpace Weather L1-A 2028EPS-Sterna 2029Sentinel CO2M-C 2029S1NG-A 2032MAGIC/NGGM 2032S2NG-A 2033S3NGT-A 2033S3NGO-A 2034S1NG-B 2034S2NG-B 2035S3NGT-B 2035S3NGO-B 2036Sentinel-6 C 2040
CEOS EO HANDBOOK – MISSION SUMMARY - MAGIC/NGGMFull Name Mass-change And Geosciences International Constellation - Next Generation Gravity Mission Status PlannedMission Agencies ESA, NASALaunch Date 2032
SUMMARYThe joint ESA/NASA Mass-change And Geosciences International Constellation (MAGIC) has the objective to extend time-series from previous gravity missions, including an improvement of accuracy and spatio-temporal resolution. The long-term monitoring of Earth’s gravity field carries information on mass change induced by water cycle, climate change and mass transport processes between atmosphere, cryosphere, oceans and solid Earth. MAGIC will be composed of two satellite pairs flying in different orbit planes. The NASA/DLR-led first pair (P1) is expected to be in a near-polar orbit around 500 km of altitude; while the second ESA-led pair (P2) is expected to be in an inclined orbit of 65°–70° at approximately 400 km altitude. The ESA-led pair P2 Next Generation Gravity Mission shall be launched after P1 in a staggered manner to form the MAGIC constellation.
CEOS EO HANDBOOK – MISSION SUMMARY - CO2ImageFull Name CO2Image Status ConsideredMission Agencies DLRLaunch Date 2026
CEOS EO HANDBOOK – MISSION SUMMARY - TanDEM-LFull Name TanDEM-L Status ConsideredMission Agencies DLR, HRCLaunch Date 2028
CEOS EO HANDBOOK – MISSION SUMMARY - TerraSAR-FoxFull Name TerraSAR Follow-On X-band Mission Status ConsideredMission Agencies DLRLaunch Date TBD
RamsesESA's Ramses spacecraft will rendezvous with Apophis before it passes Earth and will accompany the asteroid during the flyby to observe how it is deformed and changed by our planet's gravity.Patrick Michel, CNRS research director at the Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur in Nice, comments: "There is still so much we need to learn about asteroids, but so far we have had to travel deep into the solar system to study them and conduct experiments ourselves to interact with their surface.""For the first time, nature is bringing an asteroid to us and conducting the experiment itself. We only have to watch Apophis being stretched and squeezed by strong tidal forces, which could trigger landslides and other disturbances and reveal new material beneath the surface."Ramses must launch in April 2028 to arrive at Apophis in February 2029, two months before the approach. To meet this deadline, ESA has requested permission to start preparatory work for the mission as soon as possible, using existing resources. This permission was granted by the Space Safety Programme Committee. The decision on whether to proceed with the full mission will be taken at the ESA Ministerial Council in November 2025.
TAMPA, Fla. — The European Commission said Oct. 31 it is proceeding with delayed plans for a multi-orbit sovereign broadband constellation, after getting a best-and-final offer from a group led by a trio of domestic satellite operators.A contract for designing and operating more than 290 satellites by 2030 to support government communications remains subject to final negotiations, which are slated to conclude before the end of this year.Global services, which would also include capacity for the commercial market, were previously scheduled to begin by 2027, with satellite deployments planned for 2025.
ViaSat-3 Asia-PacificLaunch TimeNET 2nd Quarter, 2025...Ariane 64
https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1854942953426301387QuoteArianespace says the next Ariane 6 launch is now scheduled for no earlier than mid-February, and not this December as previously projected.https://newsroom.arianespace.com/ariane-6-first-commercial-flight-scheduled-for-early-2025?lang=engQuoteARIANE 6 FIRST COMMERCIAL FLIGHT SCHEDULED FOR EARLY 2025ARIANE 608.11.2024Ariane 6 first commercial flight scheduled for early 2025Following the success of Ariane 6’s inaugural flight and a full analysis of the data collected, ArianeGroup and Arianespace announce that the European heavy-lift launcher will make its first commercial flight in the first quarter of 2025.Arianespace will announce the flight date a few weeks before the launch.After the success of Ariane 6’s inaugural flight on July 9, ArianeGroup, Arianespace and their partners are now preparing for the launcher’s second flight.There are several stages in the lead-up to the second launch:-Analysis of millions of data points collected during the inaugural flight is now complete. The data confirms the excellent behavior and performance of Ariane 6, and only a small number of deviations from forecasts, which have been fully understood and are being addressed. The flight software correction required to re-ignite the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) and de-orbit the upper stage has been completed.-Launcher production: the main stage and upper stage for this flight are now integrated at ArianeGroup’s sites in Les Mureaux, France, and Bremen, Germany. They will soon be traveling to French Guiana on the innovative low-carbon ship, Canopée.-Lastly, within the Ariane 6 launch complex (ELA 4) at Europe’s Spaceport, handover to Arianespace and ArianeGroup has been effected and work is underway to finalize preparations for the second flight and subsequent ones.In light of these different factors, Ariane 6 is expected to make its next flight in the first quarter of 2025, from mid-February. Arianespace is working with customers to prepare the next launches for 2025, for which the scheduled dates are unchanged.“Arianespace is getting set for the first commercial launch of Ariane 6, and the next ones that will take place in 2025. We again thank our customers, the French Space Agency and the French Ministry for the Armed Forces, for their trust. We are preparing this fresh start for Europe in space with enthusiasm,” said Stéphane Israël, CEO of Arianespace.“After the successful inaugural flight on July 9, the teams from ArianeGroup and its partners retrieved and analyzed millions of data points. The careful analysis enabled us to make a number of adjustments in preparation for Ariane 6’s future missions and confirm the quality of development of Europe’s new heavy-lift launcher and its ability to carry out all missions to all orbits. The ramp-up has now started in both our own and our partners’ factories, and we are already working on the next launchers,” said Martin Sion, CEO of ArianeGroup.Ariane 6 is a program managed and financed by the European Space Agency (ESA). As lead contractor and design authority for the launcher, ArianeGroup is responsible for development and production together with its industrial partners. As of this first commercial flight, Ariane 6 is being marketed and operated by Arianespace.
Arianespace says the next Ariane 6 launch is now scheduled for no earlier than mid-February, and not this December as previously projected.
ARIANE 6 FIRST COMMERCIAL FLIGHT SCHEDULED FOR EARLY 2025ARIANE 608.11.2024Ariane 6 first commercial flight scheduled for early 2025Following the success of Ariane 6’s inaugural flight and a full analysis of the data collected, ArianeGroup and Arianespace announce that the European heavy-lift launcher will make its first commercial flight in the first quarter of 2025.Arianespace will announce the flight date a few weeks before the launch.After the success of Ariane 6’s inaugural flight on July 9, ArianeGroup, Arianespace and their partners are now preparing for the launcher’s second flight.There are several stages in the lead-up to the second launch:-Analysis of millions of data points collected during the inaugural flight is now complete. The data confirms the excellent behavior and performance of Ariane 6, and only a small number of deviations from forecasts, which have been fully understood and are being addressed. The flight software correction required to re-ignite the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) and de-orbit the upper stage has been completed.-Launcher production: the main stage and upper stage for this flight are now integrated at ArianeGroup’s sites in Les Mureaux, France, and Bremen, Germany. They will soon be traveling to French Guiana on the innovative low-carbon ship, Canopée.-Lastly, within the Ariane 6 launch complex (ELA 4) at Europe’s Spaceport, handover to Arianespace and ArianeGroup has been effected and work is underway to finalize preparations for the second flight and subsequent ones.In light of these different factors, Ariane 6 is expected to make its next flight in the first quarter of 2025, from mid-February. Arianespace is working with customers to prepare the next launches for 2025, for which the scheduled dates are unchanged.“Arianespace is getting set for the first commercial launch of Ariane 6, and the next ones that will take place in 2025. We again thank our customers, the French Space Agency and the French Ministry for the Armed Forces, for their trust. We are preparing this fresh start for Europe in space with enthusiasm,” said Stéphane Israël, CEO of Arianespace.“After the successful inaugural flight on July 9, the teams from ArianeGroup and its partners retrieved and analyzed millions of data points. The careful analysis enabled us to make a number of adjustments in preparation for Ariane 6’s future missions and confirm the quality of development of Europe’s new heavy-lift launcher and its ability to carry out all missions to all orbits. The ramp-up has now started in both our own and our partners’ factories, and we are already working on the next launchers,” said Martin Sion, CEO of ArianeGroup.Ariane 6 is a program managed and financed by the European Space Agency (ESA). As lead contractor and design authority for the launcher, ArianeGroup is responsible for development and production together with its industrial partners. As of this first commercial flight, Ariane 6 is being marketed and operated by Arianespace.
https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/proba-3/20241031-new-launch-date-announcedQuoteThe launch is now scheduled for Wednesday, 4 December 2024, 16:00 local time in Sriharikota.
The launch is now scheduled for Wednesday, 4 December 2024, 16:00 local time in Sriharikota.
Arianespace will launch Exotrail’s spacevan on board an Ariane 6, as an auxiliary passenger.This spacevan is the geostationary version of Exotrail’s Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV), due to be placed in Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) in the second half of 2026.
BREMEN, Germany — French launch vehicle startup Latitude has signed a multi-launch contract with Atmos Space Cargo, a company developing commercial reentry vehicles.In a deal announced at Space Tech Expo Europe here Nov. 19, Atmos will buy a minimum of five launches a year of Latitude’s Zephyr rocket between 2028 and 2032. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.Each launch will place a Phoenix spacecraft into very low Earth orbit, or VLEO. The spacecraft are designed to accommodate payloads for microgravity research in fields like pharmaceuticals and manufacturing, returning them to Earth.“We’re proud to have earned the trust of a unique operator in the European space industry,” Adeline Pitrois, head of sales at Latitude, said in a statement. “This demonstrates also that Zephyr is particularly well adapted to the growing LEO and VLEO markets.” ...Latitude raised $30 million in January to continue development of Zephyr, a rocket capable of placing up to 200 kilograms into low Earth orbit. The company has a goal of performing as many as 50 launches annually by 2029.Aurélie Bressollette, who became chief executive of Latitude Nov. 5, said during a panel at Space Tech Expo Europe Nov. 19 that the company remains on schedule for a first launch by the end of 2025, with tests of an engine turbopump assembly planned for late this year followed by full-scale engine tests early next year. “We are completely on our way,” she said.
Hat tip to others for this find (see "Information" > "Master Slide Deck")
https://twitter.com/arianespace/status/1861730974481977724QuoteFLIGHT VV25: LAUNCH POSTPONEMENT(1/2) Due to the need to conduct further precautionary checks and activities on launcher preparation and finalization, the VV25 launch, originally scheduled for December 3, 2024, from Europe’s Spaceport, in Kourou, French Guiana, is postponed.https://twitter.com/arianespace/status/1861731140110827660QuoteFLIGHT VV25: LAUNCH POSTPONEMENT(2/2) The impact of these add checks is today estimated in the range of one day. The new launch date will be confirmed by Friday November 29. The launcher and its passenger, the Copernicus Sentinel-1C satellite, are in stable and safe conditions.
FLIGHT VV25: LAUNCH POSTPONEMENT(1/2) Due to the need to conduct further precautionary checks and activities on launcher preparation and finalization, the VV25 launch, originally scheduled for December 3, 2024, from Europe’s Spaceport, in Kourou, French Guiana, is postponed.
FLIGHT VV25: LAUNCH POSTPONEMENT(2/2) The impact of these add checks is today estimated in the range of one day. The new launch date will be confirmed by Friday November 29. The launcher and its passenger, the Copernicus Sentinel-1C satellite, are in stable and safe conditions.
Arianespace @ArianespaceFLIGHT VV25 NOW SCHEDULED ON DEC. 4(1/2) New launch date for Copernicus Sentinel-1CThe additional checks & activities on Flight VV25 Vega C launcher are now completed, authorizing a new launch attempt by Arianespace on Dec. 4 at 6:20pm Kourou time (9:20pm UTC, 10:20pm CEST).
ESA Technology @ESA_Tech🚨🚨🚨ESA's eclipse-making Proba-3 will lift off on an @ISRO PSLV-XL launcher from India on Wednesday, 4 December, at 11:38 CET (10:38 GMT, 16:08 local time). Here's how to watch the launch live https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Technology/Proba-3/Watch_eclipse-making_Proba-3_launch
https://twitter.com/isro/status/1864296439053955392QuoteAs per the ESA's request, the launch of PSLV-C59/PROBA-3 has been rescheduled as follows:Date: 05th December 2024Time: 16:04https://twitter.com/aschbacherjosef/status/1864283463232246264QuoteDuring Proba3’s pre-launch preparations at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in India, an anomaly in the redundant propulsion system of the Coronagraph Spacecraft occurred. This propulsion system is part of the attitude and orbit control subsystem of the satellite and used to maintain orientation and pointing in space. The anomaly is currently under detailed investigation. The use of a software solution by the mission control team at @ESA’s ESEC centre at Redu, Belgium is being evaluated to allow a launch on Thursday 5 December at 11:34 CET (10:34 GMT, 16:04 local time). #Proba3
As per the ESA's request, the launch of PSLV-C59/PROBA-3 has been rescheduled as follows:Date: 05th December 2024Time: 16:04
During Proba3’s pre-launch preparations at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in India, an anomaly in the redundant propulsion system of the Coronagraph Spacecraft occurred. This propulsion system is part of the attitude and orbit control subsystem of the satellite and used to maintain orientation and pointing in space. The anomaly is currently under detailed investigation. The use of a software solution by the mission control team at @ESA’s ESEC centre at Redu, Belgium is being evaluated to allow a launch on Thursday 5 December at 11:34 CET (10:34 GMT, 16:04 local time). #Proba3
Scrubbed for today, now planned for tomorrow at the same time (21:20:33 UTC):QuoteFLIGHT VV25: POSTPONEMENT OF THE LAUNCH(1/2) Due to a mechanical issue preventing the withdrawal of the mobile gantry, the launch chronology has been stopped.The earliest targeted launch date is planned for tomorrow Thursday 5 Dec. at 6:20 p.m. (Kourou time , 9:20 p.m. UTC).QuoteFLIGHT VV25: POSTPONEMENT OF THE LAUNCH (2/2) The launcher and its passenger the Copernicus Sentinel-1C satellite are in stable and safe conditions.https://twitter.com/Arianespace/status/1864392342708289937
FLIGHT VV25: POSTPONEMENT OF THE LAUNCH(1/2) Due to a mechanical issue preventing the withdrawal of the mobile gantry, the launch chronology has been stopped.The earliest targeted launch date is planned for tomorrow Thursday 5 Dec. at 6:20 p.m. (Kourou time , 9:20 p.m. UTC).
FLIGHT VV25: POSTPONEMENT OF THE LAUNCH (2/2) The launcher and its passenger the Copernicus Sentinel-1C satellite are in stable and safe conditions.
Balkan-1 is going to Space! [Sep 4]QuoteWe are excited to share that after months of hard work by EnduroSat’s development team, another major milestone in the Balkan Constellation project has been reached. This week, Balkan-1, the pilot mission for the Balkan Constellation, was successfully integrated. The spacecraft was placed into an ExoPod Nova deployer and will be deployed in orbit in early November.The Balkan Constellation represents a significant step in EnduroSat’s mission to make space data universally accessible. Balkan-1 is a 16U NanoSat, equipped with a state-of-the-art multispectral camera. Its onboard deep neural network processing capabilities will enable new use cases in imagery analytics. The Balkan Constellation will provide EU with unprecedented revisit times, real-time cloud-based monitoring services, and AI-powered detection capabilities. The space data provided by these satellites will accelerate access to maritime surveillance, humanitarian aid, ecological support, and environmental monitoring.ESA presentation [June 3]Quote** The launch of Balkan-1 is postponed to October on Transporter-12 Space-X mission; confirmation of launch schedule will be provided during the mid-term review in March
We are excited to share that after months of hard work by EnduroSat’s development team, another major milestone in the Balkan Constellation project has been reached. This week, Balkan-1, the pilot mission for the Balkan Constellation, was successfully integrated. The spacecraft was placed into an ExoPod Nova deployer and will be deployed in orbit in early November.The Balkan Constellation represents a significant step in EnduroSat’s mission to make space data universally accessible. Balkan-1 is a 16U NanoSat, equipped with a state-of-the-art multispectral camera. Its onboard deep neural network processing capabilities will enable new use cases in imagery analytics. The Balkan Constellation will provide EU with unprecedented revisit times, real-time cloud-based monitoring services, and AI-powered detection capabilities. The space data provided by these satellites will accelerate access to maritime surveillance, humanitarian aid, ecological support, and environmental monitoring.
** The launch of Balkan-1 is postponed to October on Transporter-12 Space-X mission; confirmation of launch schedule will be provided during the mid-term review in March
I'm taking this with a grain of salt, but the president of the Portuguese Space Agency said today that Space Rider's inaugural flight (NET 2027) will land in Santa Maria island (Azores).Source: https://acores.rtp.pt/local/santa-maria-vai-receber-voo-inaugural-do-space-rider/ (I find no sources in English, sorry)[Nov 7]
...May 2025Expected launch of MicroCarb on the Vega C rocket in French Guinea...
USN seeks authority to support the LEOP operations for the Sentinels-1D spacecraft to be launched in June 2025
QuoteUSN seeks authority to support the LEOP operations for the Sentinels-1D spacecraft to be launched in June 2025