Sky had originally been planning to switch to a new more capable satellite, Optus 11, late next year.But that satellite is not now expected to be available before 2027 due to manufacturing delays, and the earlier expected failure of D2 means it is likely to need to rely on an interim solution for about two years.
Peter B. de Selding @pbdes.@ArianeGroup -owned @maiaspace_ , building the heaviest of the rockets being designed by Europe's staratups, wins @CNES-managed bidding process to operate from former Soyuz launch pad at @EuropeSpacePort in French Guiana. Criteria included at least 1,500-kg to LEO by 2027.
MaiaSpace said Sept. 26 that CNES awarded it access to the pad, known as ELS, for use by its small launch vehicle. The pad at the Guiana Space Center had been idle since Russia halted Soyuz launches from there in 2022, a response to European sanctions against Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.MaiaSpace said in a statement it will spend “several tens of millions of euros” to adapt the pad for use by its vehicle for launches starting in 2026. However, Yohann Leroy, chief executive of MaiaSpace, called it a more “cost-effective solution” than building an entirely new launch facility, a move that will “contribute to optimizing the level of its capital expenditures and therefore MaiaSpace’s business viability.”
At a briefing in late August ahead of the final launch of the original version of Vega, Toni Tolker-Nielsen, ESA’s director of space transportation, said there was “very good confidence” that the second test of the Zefiro-40 would be successful based on the performance of the motor in the first test.He said then that the Vega C was on track to return to flight as soon as late November, a schedule that had not changed in over a year through the redesign and testing of the motor. “We’ve been following a plan that was set out in the middle of last year and I’m very confident that we will be able to make it with Vega C’s return in the end of November,” he said.That return-to-flight mission will carry Sentinel-1C, a radar imaging satellite that is part of the ESA/European Commission Copernicus program of Earth science spacecraft.Vega C’s return comes as Arianespace, the launch services provider, transitions the vehicle to Avio. Arianespace will remain responsible for the operations of the next five Vega C flights, scheduled through the end of 2025, at which point Avio will take over. Avio is already handling sales and marketing of the rocket, a role previously held by Arianespace.
Space Rider F2Launch TimeNET 2026
Space Rider F3Launch TimeNET 2026
Space Rider F4Launch TimeNET 2027
Space Rider F5Launch TimeNET 2027
Altius is scheduled to be launched in 2026 on a Vega-C rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
Data about FLEX: Start: 2026 Launcher: Vega-C
CEOS EO HANDBOOK – MISSION SUMMARY - FLEXFull Name FLuorescence EXplorer Status ApprovedMission Agencies ESA Launch Date Mar 2026
The Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) is a joint collaborative science mission between ESA and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) that will study how the solar wind interacts with the Earth’s magnetic environment. It is due for launch from September 2025 on an ESA Vega-C rocket from Kourou in French Guiana.
The first LEO-PNT satellite is expected to launch within 20 months from the project’s commencement, with the complete constellation operational before 2027.
The LEO-PNT mission includes the deployment of five satellites into orbit, the first of which will be launched within 20 months from the start of the project. This will act as a technology demonstrator based on a 12U CubeSat architecture. The constellation will be completed in 2027 with the launch of the remaining four satellites.
Currently under development, IRIDE is a satellite constellation for Earth observation that was born as an initiative of the Italian government, with the support of the resources of the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). IRIDE will be completed by 2026 under the management of the European Space Agency (ESA), with the support of the Italian Space Agency (ASI)....Additionally, Telespazio is part of the industrial team led by OHB Italia, which is tasked with developing and delivering the first batch of 12 satellites (and the related FOS) for the Multispectral High Resolution imaging mission, scheduled for launch in 2025.
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/422QuoteSpace Rider F2Launch TimeNET 2026https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/1936QuoteSpace Rider F3Launch TimeNET 2026https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/1941QuoteSpace Rider F4Launch TimeNET 2027https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/1940QuoteSpace Rider F5Launch TimeNET 2027
William Harwood @cbs_spacenewsF9/Hera: LIFTOFF! At 10:52:11am EDT (1452 UTC)
Peter B. de Selding@pbdesSpanish startup launch provider @PLD_Space, 15 months from 1st orbital flight, outlines ambitions for commercial production, future heavy-lift rocket and crewed reentry capsule. @esa @CNES @DianaMorantR
https://newsroom.arianespace.com/arianespace-to-launch-copernicus-sentinel-1c-satellite-on-december-3ARIANESPACE TO LAUNCH EUROPEAN UNION’S COPERNICUS EARTH OBSERVATION SENTINEL-1C SATELLITE ON DECEMBER 3, 2024Press release 24-11Evry-Courcouronnes, 10 October 2024• On December 3, 2024 (Kourou time), Arianespace will launch Sentinel-1C, a Copernicussatellite for the European Commission within the scope of a contract signed with the EuropeanSpace Agency (ESA).• This mission will provide crucial environmental data for the planet, while also carrying outArianespace’s commitment of guaranteeing Europe’s independent access to space.• Sentinel-1C is the 6th Sentinel satellite launched by Arianespace• This VV25 mission will mark the return-to-flight of the Vega C launcher.Arianespace’s next mission is scheduled for Tuesday December 3rd, 2024, at 6:20 p.m. local time (9:20 p.m.UTC, 10:20 p.m. CEST), from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, with a Vega C launcher. TheVV25 mission will place its passenger, the Copernicus Sentinel-1C satellite, into Sun-Synchronous Orbit at analtitude of around 700 km. Spacecraft separation will occur 1 hour and 43 minutes after lift-off.Sentinel-1C is part of Copernicus, the European Union’s Space program Earth observation component. Theworld’s most advanced Earth observation system, Copernicus provides continuous, free, and reliable Earthobservation data and services to public authorities, companies and citizens around the globe. The program,managed by the European Commission, is funded by the European Union with a contribution of ESA.The Sentinel-1 radar imaging mission is composed of a constellation of two polar-orbiting satellites providingcontinuous all-weather, day and night imagery for land and maritime monitoring. C-band synthetic apertureradar (SAR) imaging has the advantage of operating at wavelengths that are not obstructed by clouds or lackof illumination and therefore can acquire data during day or night under all weather conditions. Sentinel-1delivers radar imagery for numerous applications. SAR images are the best way of tracking land subsidenceand structural damage: systematic observations and enhanced interferometric capabilities make groundmovement barely noticeable in everyday life detectable and closely monitorable. As well as being a valuableresource for urban planners, this type of information is essential for monitoring shifts from earthquakes,landslides and volcanic uplift. Moreover, it helps geohazard monitoring, mining, geology and city planningthrough subsidence risk assessment.Thales Alenia Space is the prime contractor of Sentinel-1C which arrived in French Guiana on October 8th,2024. During the launch campaign, the satellite will undergo a precise series of pre-launch tests in preparationfor its lift-off, leading to the Launch Readiness Review (LRR) planned on December 2nd, 2024. The successfulcompletion of the LRR triggers the approval for proceeding to the launch chronology.Before the upcoming launch of Sentinel-1C, Sentinel-1A, Sentinel-2A, Sentinel-1B, Sentinel-2B and Sentinel-2C were successfully launched by Arianespace. The VV25 mission once again highlights Arianespace’scommitment to space for a better life on Earth, as well as ensuring Europe’s independent access to space.This VV25 mission will mark the return-to-flight of the Vega C launcher.The Vega C launcher has been upgraded with more powerful first and second stage Solid Rocket Motors, biggerAVUM tanks and with a larger fairing that significantly increase payload mass (up to 2,350t in SSO – Sun-Synchronous Orbit) and double allowable volume. The launcher also better meets the specific needs of smallspacecraft, thanks to its improved SSMS (Small Spacecraft Mission Service) dispenser and to its AVUM+ motorthat will allow seven re-ignitions. Vega C can thus deliver its payloads on three different orbits on the samemission, instead of the two previously possible with Vega.ESA is responsible for the Vega C launch system qualification and is the contracting authority for thedevelopment of Vega C, a programme carried out with participation of thirteen ESA Member States. Avio Spa(Colleferro, Italy) is the prime contractor and design authority of the Vega C launchers, delivering a ready to liftofflauncher to Arianespace, which will remain its operator up to Vega/Vega C Flight 29 (VV29).The first generation in the Vega family was launched in 2012 and flew 22 times, with a successful final flighton September 4th with Sentinel-2C on board.The VV25 launch at a glance:➔ 351st launch for the Arianespace launcher family➔ 10% of the satellites launched by Arianespace are Earth observation satellites➔ 6th Sentinel satellite launched by Arianespace➔ 51st mission for the European Space Agency➔ 3rd Vega C launch➔ 107th spacecraft built by Thales Alenia Space launched by Arianespace
ESA has taken another important step on the road towards sustainability in space with its first in-orbit servicing mission RISE. A €119 million contract was signed with D-Orbit as the co-funding prime contractor.RISE is a commercial in-orbit servicing mission that will demonstrate that it can safely rendezvous and dock to a geostationary client satellite. After verifying that it meets all the performance standards, D-Orbit will start commercial life extension services for geostationary satellites.ESA’s RISE mission marks a promising step towards enhancing in-orbit services and technologies, such as refuelling, refurbishment and assembling – all essential elements for creating a circular economy in space.
RISE is expected to launch in 2028, kicking off an eventful 8-year mission in geostationary orbit. To start with, the satellite will transfer to a staging orbit just above regular geostationary orbit at an altitude of almost 36 000 km.
ESA has awarded a contract valued at over €280 million to OHB in Germany to build ESA’s two Harmony Earth Explorer satellites.
Milan, October 15th, 2024 - Thales Alenia Space, a Joint Venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), has signed a contract with OHB to develop the two Earth observation Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) instruments to be embarked on the two-satellite Harmony constellation – ESA’s 10th Earth Explorer mission expected to be launched aboard a Vega-C launch vehicle by 2029.
CEOS EO HANDBOOK – MISSION SUMMARY - PLT-1Full Name PLATiNO-1 Status ApprovedLaunch Date Dec 2025
CEOS EO HANDBOOK – MISSION SUMMARY - PLT-2Full Name PLATiNO-2 Status ApprovedMission Agencies ASI, NASALaunch Date Feb 2026
CEOS EO HANDBOOK – MISSION SUMMARY - PRISMA2GENFull Name PRecursore IperSpettrale della Missione Applicativa Second Generation aka PSG Status ApprovedMission Agencies ASILaunch Date Dec 2029
CEOS EO HANDBOOK – MISSION SUMMARY - SAOCOM-2Full Name Satélite Argentino de Observación COn Microondas 2A Status PlannedMission Agencies CONAE, ASILaunch Date 2031
CEOS EO HANDBOOK – MISSION SUMMARY - MicroCarbFull Name MicroCarb Status ApprovedMission Agencies CNES [Lead Agency, UKSALaunch Date Mar 2025
CEOS EO HANDBOOK – MISSION SUMMARY - MERLINFull Name Methane Remote Sensing Lidar Mission aka D/F Climate Mission Status ApprovedMission Agencies CNES, DLRLaunch Date Feb 2029
CEOS EO HANDBOOK – MISSION SUMMARY - Sentinel-5 CFull Name Sentinel-5 Caka S5C Status ApprovedMission Agencies ESA, COM, EUMETSATLaunch Date May 2039
CEOS EO HANDBOOK – MISSION SUMMARY - HydroGNSSFull Name HydroGNSS-A and -Baka Scout-2 Status ApprovedMission Agencies ESA, UKSALaunch Date May 2025
CEOS EO HANDBOOK – MISSION SUMMARY - FORUMFull Name Far-infrared Outgoing Radiation Understanding and Monitoring Status ApprovedMission Agencies ESALaunch Date Aug 2027
CEOS EO HANDBOOK – MISSION SUMMARY - HarmonyFull Name Harmony-A and -B Status ApprovedMission Agencies ESA Launch Date Dec 2029
CEOS EO HANDBOOK – MISSION SUMMARY - TRUTHSFull Name Traceable Radiometry Underpinning Terrestrial- and Helio- Studies (TRUTHS) Status ApprovedMission Agencies ESA, UKSALaunch Date Mar 2030
CEOS EO HANDBOOK – MISSION SUMMARY - MAGIC/MCDOFull Name Mass-change And Geosciences International Constellation - Mass Change Designated ObservableStatus ApprovedMission Agencies NASA, ESALaunch Date Dec 2032
CEOS EO HANDBOOK – MISSION SUMMARY - EPS-SternaFull Name EUMETSAT Polar System - Sterna Status PlannedMission Agencies EUMETSAT, ESALaunch Date 2029
CEOS EO HANDBOOK – MISSION SUMMARY - EPS-AeolusFull Name EUMETSAT Polar System - Aeolus aka Aeolus-2Status ConsideredMission Agencies EUMETSAT, ESALaunch Date 2034