Arianespace will use Vega to launch two satellites in the Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-3 families, dedicated to Europe's GMES program – Global Monitoring for Environment and Security.
The launches are scheduled for 2014-2016, from the Guiana Space Center.
ESA and Arianespace have signed contracts for the launches of two of ESA’s Sentinel satellites. Arianespace will launch Sentinel-2B and Sentinel-3B on Europe’s new Vega rocket from French Guiana.
The contracts signed with Arianespace are for the second Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-3 satellites, which are now scheduled for launch in 2014–16 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
Xatcobeo (a collaboration of the University of Vigo and INTA, Spain) Robusta (University of Montpellier 2, France) E-St@r (Politecnico di Torino, Italy) Goliat (University of Bucharest, Romania) PW-Sat (Warsaw University of Technology, Poland) MaSat-1 (Budapest University of Technology & Economics, Hungary) UniCubeSat GG (Universitá di Roma ‘La Sapienza’, Italy)
Le Gall said the next launch of the Europeanized Soyuz is likely to be of the two remaining Galileo in-orbit-validation satellites. It is scheduled for the first half of 2012, he said.
Challenges for 2012Arianespace has set a target of seven Ariane 5 launches in 2012, including the Edoardo Amaldi ATV3, scheduled for March 9. It also plans five Soyuz launches, three from the Guiana Space Center and two from Baikonur, via Starsem.Arianespace teams are working with their counterparts from the European Space Agency (ESA), the Guiana Space Center and industry to prepare the first launch of the new Vega light rocket, which will orbit the Lares and AlmaSat-1 satellites, along with several microsatellites.
First launch of VegaEurope's family of launchers will welcome its smallest member, Vega.Location: CSG, Europe's Spaceport (French Guiana)Date: 9 February
Launch: Meteosat Second Generation-3The Meteosat Second Generation satellites have been developed and built by ESA and are exploited by Eumetsat. They are designed to fulfil user requirements for improved weather prediction. MSG-3 will continue the successful series of operational meteorological satellites that started with Meteosat-1 in 1977. The first second-generation (MSG-1) satellite with its improved capabilities was launched in 2004, followed by MSG-2 in December 2005.Location: CSG, Europe's Spaceport (French Guiana). A joint ESA-Eumetsat launch event will be held at Eumetsat's premises in Darmstadt, Germany with supporting events at ESA premises.Date: 15 June – 15 July
Launch: second satellites pair of the Galileo constellationEurope’s Galileo satellite navigation system will see the launch of the second two In-Orbit Validation satellites. With the first four satellites of the constellation and their ground network, ESA will be able to validate the overall Galileo concept.Location: CSG, Europe's Spaceport (French Guiana), with launch events at ESA premisesDate: August/ September
