Arianespace's final launch of 2025, mission VA266, will place into orbit a pair of Galileo satellites (Galileo L14), servicing Europe's ultra-high performance global satellite navigation system. Mission VA266 will be the fourth commercial flight for Ariane 6. It will use an Ariane 6 with two boosters, the Ariane 62, which has successfully flown in this version since its inaugural flight in 2024.
Media representatives are invited to express their interest in attending the media programme for the next launch of Galileo satellites at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.In December 2025, two Galileo satellites will be launched on board an Ariane 6 rocket from Europe’s spaceport in French Guiana. This will bring the total number of satellites launched to 34, further improving the precision, availability and robustness of the Galileo system and services. Using Europe’s flagship launcher to secure the future of the EU’s independent satellite navigation system is a testament to the continent’s space capability and autonomy. This launch will benefit the billions of people that use Galileo signals daily via their smartphone, as well as key sectors such as rail, maritime, agriculture and rescue operations.ESA and its partners Arianespace and the European Commission are planning a wide range of media activities for this launch. This includes online pre-launch media briefings which will be open to all journalists.This call for interest only relates to activities taking place on site at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. This will ensure that media accreditation is completed in time and to establish a reserve list in the event of cancellations. More details on the media programme in French Guiana will be shared in due course.RegistrationJournalists wishing to participate in the media programme at Europe’s spaceport are asked to submit their application via ESA’s media accreditation page as soon as possible and no later than 10:00 CET on Tuesday 18 November 2025.
Quote from: Arianespace tweetTo allow for the completion of additional preparation and finalization activities on the Vega C launcher, the VV28 launch has been rescheduled.The earliest targeted launch date is now November 30th, 2025, at 2:21 p.m. local time (5:21 p.m. UTC, 6:21 p.m. CET).<snip>This schedule adjustment has no impact on the VA266 launch for Galileo L14. [Nov 21]
To allow for the completion of additional preparation and finalization activities on the Vega C launcher, the VV28 launch has been rescheduled.The earliest targeted launch date is now November 30th, 2025, at 2:21 p.m. local time (5:21 p.m. UTC, 6:21 p.m. CET).<snip>This schedule adjustment has no impact on the VA266 launch for Galileo L14. [Nov 21]
https://newsroom.arianespace.com/flight-vv28-new-launch-date[VV28] Delayed by one dayThe earliest targeted launch date is now December 1st, 2025, at 2:21 p.m. local time (5:21 p.m. UTC, 6:21 p.m. CET). This schedule adjustment has no impact on the VA266 launch for Galileo L14.
Satellite FuellingHaving passed their fit check and functional tests with flying colours, the two Galileo satellites made their way to fuelling facility to be loaded with propellant.Before adding fuel, the satellites underwent pressure testing to ensure they wouldn't leak any fuel. Only then is it safe to begin adding fuel.The satellites are fuelled in a special facility, separate from other parts of the spaceport. To get there, they were once again packed into their transport containers.Fuelling involves hydrazine, a propellant that is both toxic and explosive. For this reason, only a handful of specialists remain inside the cleanroom during the process, fully protected by their astronaut-like SCAPE suits (Self-Contained Atmospheric Protection Ensemble).Once in orbit, 23 222 km above Earth, this fuel will propel the satellites to their final position and keep them precisely aligned.A launch is a meticulous process where every step is planned well in advance. Fuelling must be completed early before the next major step: the satellites’ integration on the launcher.
Briefing schedule9 December 2025 English, 11:00 – 12:00 CET • Caroline Arnoux, Head of the Ariane Business Unit, Arianespace • Andrea Cotellessa, Head of Galileo Space Segment Management Office, ESA • Eric Châtre, Deputy Head of Unit for Satellite Navigation, European Commission (DEFIS) • Guerric Pont, Head of Galileo Exploitation Department, EUSPA • Manuel Czech, Director Navigation Programme, OHB French, 12:00 – 13:00 CET • Caroline Arnoux, Head of the Ariane Business Unit, Arianespace • Thibault Leroux, Head of Galileo System Security Service, ESA • Paul Flament, Head of Unit for Satellite Navigation, European Commission (DEFIS) • Guerric Pont, Head of Galileo Exploitation Department, EUSPA Spanish, 13:00 - 14:00 CET • Miguel Manteiga Bautista, Head of Galileo Programme Office, ESA • Xavier Pena, Galileo Deployment Manager, EUSPADutch, 14:00 – 15:00 CET • Bastiaan Willemse, Head of Galileo FOC Satellite Management Service, ESA • Peter Buist, Galileo Reference Centre Manager, EUSPAGerman, 15:00 – 16:00 CET • Jörg Hahn, Head of Galileo System Engineering Service, ESA • Christoph Kautz, Director for Space Policy, Satellite Navigation and Earth Observation, European Commission (DEFIS) • Robert Greinacher, EUSPA • Manuel Czech, Director Navigation Programme, OHB Italian, 16:00 – 17:00 CET • Andrea Cotellessa, Head of Galileo Space Segment Management Office/ Ennio Guarino, Head of Galileo and EGNOS Programme Dept, ESA • Guerric Pont, Head of Galileo Exploitation Department, EUSPA
I assume the new satellites are intended to replace GSAT0101 and 0102 in Galileo plane B?However, GSAT0205 in plane A is still out of service. But there's already a replacement satellite nearby....
ESA Space Transport@ESA_transport🛰️ Preparing for liftoff – the next Galileo satellites have been mounted to their Ariane 6 dispenser that will eject them from the rocket's upper stage into their initial orbit around Earth.The satellites will journey to medium Earth orbit, 23 222 km above our planet, where they join the satellite navigation constellation.https://esa.int/Applications/Satellite_navigation/Follow_the_Galileo_launch_L14_campaign
Watch the replay of the media briefing held ahead of the 14th operational launch of the Galileo programme. The briefing covers the mission details for the launch of two Galileo satellites, which are set to lift off on 17 December aboard Ariane 6 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana
Highlights: • Launch Readiness Review on December 15th. • 4 Galileo satellites remaining in storage (Bremen), planning to launch in "next 12 to 16 months" on Ariane 62. • New Ariane 6 dispenser weighs ~150 kg to hold "a total of 1.4 - 1.45 tons of satellites". • Launch 15 has been scheduled for "end of '26", Launch 16 "beginning of 2027", with contract for launch 18 already signed. • Second generation satellites will be "more than twice the size of the current satellites", and will launch "in a few years". 12 under development (6 with Airbus in Germany and 6 with Thales in Italy). 2.5 tons vs 0.73 tons of first generation. Will dual stack launch and use electric propulsion to reach orbit in up to 6 months.
On December 4, 2025, Universal Space Network, Inc. was granted special temporary authority for 180 days, beginning on December 5, 2025 through June 2, 2026, to operate its earth station located in Naalehu, HI to provide launch and early orbit phase (LEOP) support to the Galileo L14 satellites (GSAT0233 and GSAT0234), licensed by Italy, at the 2040.399075 MHz and 2046.05115 MHz (Earthto-space), and 2215.818 MHz and 2221.956 MHz (space-to-Earth) center frequencies.
On December 17, 2025, with Ariane 6, Arianespace will place into orbit a pair of Galileo satellites for the European Space Agency (ESA), on behalf of the European Commission and the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA)
🛰️ Encapsulation completedGalileo SAT 33 & 34 are now safely under the fairing, ready for integration on #Ariane6.The 14th launch in the Galileo programme will place satellites SAT 33 and SAT 34 into medium Earth orbit, at an altitude of approximately 22 922 km.
Do we know the launcher serial number? Perhaps 6006?
