First MetOp Second Generation satellite to launch in August28/01/2025ESA, Eumetsat, the European Commission and Arianespace have announced an agreement to advance the launch of the first MetOp Second Generation weather satellite, which also carries the Copernicus Sentinel-5 mission, to August 2025 aboard an Ariane 6 rocket.This announcement, made today during the 17th Space Conference, brings the launch of the MetOp Second Generation satellite, MetOp-SG-A1, forward from later this year to August.This new satellite will be launched on Ariane 6’s second commercial flight, VA264.[...]
On February 26, 2025 at 1:24 p.m. local time (4:24 p.m. UTC, 5:24 p.m. CET), Arianespace will launch the CSO-3 satellite with Ariane 6 from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. The mission, called VA263, will be the first commercial flight for Ariane 6, the new European heavy-lift launcher...
Sentinel-1D is switching its ride to Ariane 62 with launch in the 2nd half of 2025:https://newsroom.arianespace.com/the-european-commission-esa-and-eumetsat-sign-two-agreements-with-arianespace-on-ariane-6?lang=engThe European Commission, ESA, and EUMETSAT sign two agreements with Arianespace on Ariane 628.01.2025* The European Union Copernicus Sentinel-1D satellite will fly on board Ariane 6, in the second half of 2025.* With Ariane 6, Arianespace ensures Europe’s autonomous access to space.Arianespace signs two agreements on Ariane 6 with key European institutions at the 17th European Space Conference. The European Commission, the European Space Agency (ESA) and EUMETSAT have reaffirmed their support for Ariane 6, Europe’s new heavy-lift launcher.The European Commission and ESA have entrusted Arianespace with the launch of Sentinel-1D in the second half of 2025, with the 2-booster version of Ariane 6 (Ariane 62). The satellite is part of Copernicus, the Earth observation component of the European Union’s Space Programme. As the world’s most advanced Earth observation system, Copernicus provides continuous, free, and reliable Earth observation data and services to public authorities, companies and citizens around the globe. Sentinel-1D will carry advanced radar technology to provide an all-weather, day-and-night supply of imagery of the Earth’s surface, delivering data essential to monitoring sea ice, track icebergs and glaciers, subsidence, and oil spills....David Cavaillolès, CEO of Arianespace, declared; “By reaffirming their trust towards Europe’s new heavy-lift Ariane 6 launcher, our European partners strengthen Europe’s space industry and its sovereignty. We are extremely proud to deliver what we are committed to providing: Europe’s autonomous access to space. I thank once again the European Commission, ESA and EUMETSAT for entrusting Arianespace and Ariane 6.”“This year, the Ariane 6 launcher will play a key role to secure and sustain the operations of Copernicus with the launch of Sentinel-1D and the launch of Sentinel-5A on board of Metop-SG-A1. The choice of Ariane 6 is a clear sign of the European Commission’s engagement to support the European launcher industry,’’ said Director for Satellite Navigation and Earth Observation at the European Commission, Christoph Kautz.“Developed by ESA, these satellite missions are equipped with state-of-the-art technology to deliver crucial data that brings significant benefits to both society and the economy. With our European partners, the European Commission and EUMETSAT we are very happy that the Ariane 6 launcher will carry these precious missions into space, enabling them to begin their operational life in Earth's orbit,” said Simonetta Cheli, ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programmes.
Launch: Envision is targeting a launch in November 2031. The mission is foreseen to launch from ESA’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana on an Ariane 64 launch vehicle.
Arianespace signs Ariane 6 launch contract for Galileo’s first pair of second-generation satellites28.01.2025 Arianespace signs contract with the European Commission and the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) for the launch of the first two second-generation satellites of the Galileo constellation, placed on-board an Ariane 6. With the already booked Galileo first-generation satellites missions on board Ariane 6, this new contract represents the fourth mission for Ariane 6 benefiting the Galileo constellation. Since 2011, Arianespace has launched 28 Galileo satellites from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.Arianespace announced today at the 17th European Space Conference the signature of the launch contract with the European Commission and the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) to orbit the first pair of second-generation satellites (L17) of the Galileo navigation constellation on board an Ariane 6. Both satellites, weighing between 2,200 kg and 2,400 kg each, and equipped with electrical propulsion, once launched will reach the Galileo constellation’s operational orbit at an altitude of 23,222 km after a few months. With this signature, the European Commission and the EUSPA are formalizing the launch contract of L17 entrusted to Arianespace in April 2024.Prior to this launch, three launches (L14, L15 and L16) are already scheduled on board an Ariane 6 for Europe’s ultra-high performance Galileo satellite navigation system. Each of these three launches will carry a pair of satellites that will complete the first-generation of the Galileo navigation constellation.David Cavaillolès, CEO of Arianespace, commented: “This signature with the European Commission and EUSPA reaffirms Arianespace’s commitment to guaranteeing sovereign access to space for Europe. We are extremely proud to contribute to the flagship Galileo global navigation satellite system, providing high-precision positionings and services to European governments, institutions, and citizens.” David Cavaillolès added: “This is the fourth launch booked on Ariane 6 for Galileo and the first for the second-generation Galileo satellites.I thank our partners for their continued trust in Arianespace: a long-standing commitment we have together towards the Galileo programme, reinforcing both Ariane 6 and Europe’s space autonomy.”Rodrigo da Costa, EUSPA Executive Director, said: “This launch contract is a key milestone for Galileo’s second generation, enhancing precision and reliability for users worldwide. EUSPA is proud to support the European Union’s space autonomy and deliver innovative services to citizens globally.”The first twelve second Generation satellites are currently in the full production phase, led by ESA and built in parallel by Thales Alenia Space and Airbus Defence and Space respectively.As the first joint infrastructure produced, financed and owned by the European Union, the European Commission has overall responsibility for the Galileo programme. ESA will act as Launch Technical Authority for the customer in interface with Arianespace. The Galileo programme contains innovative technologies developed by Europe for the entire world. Galileo's design, development and qualification, and the system’s evolution, along with the technical development of its infrastructure, are entrusted to ESA. The European Commission has delegated the operational management of the Galileo programme to the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), which is responsible for the deployment, maintenance and evolutions of the Galileo system in operation, and the direct management of the activities entrusted to ESA. EUSPA also ensures that Galileo services are delivered with the defined performance and without interruption.
Arianespace to launch ESA's space telescope PLATO with Ariane 629.01.2025 Arianespace will launch ESA’s PLATO scientific spacecraft on board an Ariane 6, end of 2026. PLATO (PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars) will study terrestrial planets in orbits up to the habitable zone of Sun-like stars, and characterise these stars. Arianespace continues to support European scientific missions, advancing space exploration and the better understanding of the Universe.At the 17th European Space Conference, Arianespace announces it has been awarded the contract to launch the European Space Agency’s (ESA) terrestrial planet hunter PLATO (PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars) satellite. PLATO will board the heavy-lift Ariane 62, for a launch from Europe’s Spaceport, in French Guiana, end of 2026, and will be placed into orbit around the Sun-Earth Lagrange point L2. By orbiting PLATO, the Ariane 6 will demonstrate its capability to ensure precise orbital insertion for complex exploration missions.David Cavaillolès, CEO of Arianespace, commented: “After major scientific missions like JUICE, BepiColombo, and of course the James Webb telescope, PLATO’s launch with Ariane 6 continues Ariane’s key role in the quest to discover other worlds and the exploration of the universe. We express our pride and gratitude towards our historic partner the European Space Agency for their trust. Our teams are most enthusiast to closely working together to bring this extraordinary European exploration spacecraft to orbit with Ariane 6. This new contract takes Arianespace’s backlog to 32 Ariane 6 booked, demonstrating once again that Ariane 6 is perfectly suited to European and international needs, including the most complex ones.”Ariane 6 is designed to launch a variety of customer mission profiles, including LEO constellations, GEO telecom and broadcast satellites, MEO Galileo navigation payloads, and other European institutional secure communication, science and exploration missions. Perfectly adapted to the market, Europe’s new heavy-lift rocket allows Arianespace to best tailor to the ambitions of our institutional and commercial customers.Toni Tolker-Nielsen, ESA Director of Space Transportation, commented: “This is the first science mission that our new rocket Ariane 6 will launch, and the first mission that the versatile launcher will send to the Lagrange 2, 1.5 million kilometers from the launch pad, a new destination for our heavy-lift rocket to show its prowess."Carole Mundell, ESA Director of Science, said: “Most of ESA’s Science flagship missions have been launched on Ariane rockets. From Rosetta to Webb and Juice, Arianespace has ensured exquisitely accurate delivery of our precious technologies into deep space, increasing mission lifetimes and scientific performance. So it comes naturally to launch Plato on Europe’s newest rocket, confident that it will take our spacecraft exactly where it must be.”Designed to detect and characterize Earth-like exoplanets, PLATO will utilize a unique array of 26 cameras to observe hundreds of thousands of stars with unprecedented precision. Using such a large number of cameras will enable a combined higher ‘signal-to-noise’ ratio and larger field of view than has been possible with previous missions. Through the observations of bright stars, PLATO will assemble the first catalogue of confirmed and characterised planets with known densities, compositions, and ages, which will include planets in the habitable zone of Sun-like stars. PLATO’s will revolutionise our understanding of planet formation and the evolution of planetary systems, as well as the potential habitability.PLATO is an ESA-led mission, with Germany’s OHB System AG nominated as prime contractor. The spacecraft will be built and assembled by OHB together with Thales Alenia Space in France and the UK and Beyond Gravity in Switzerland. The scientific payload, consisting of the cameras and electronic units, is provided through a collaboration between ESA and the PLATO Mission Consortium. This Consortium is composed of various European research centres, institutes and industries.
Launch is now scheduled for Early-April:QuoteN° 3–2025: Media invitation: last chance to see ESA’s Biomass satellite in Europe22 January 2025[...]This prestigious event offers the media a unique chance to see ESA’s latest Earth Explorer satellite before it is prepared for shipment to Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, where it is scheduled for liftoff in early April. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear about the mission firsthand from experts involved in the mission, conduct interviews, and photograph the satellite in the cleanroom.[...]
N° 3–2025: Media invitation: last chance to see ESA’s Biomass satellite in Europe22 January 2025[...]This prestigious event offers the media a unique chance to see ESA’s latest Earth Explorer satellite before it is prepared for shipment to Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, where it is scheduled for liftoff in early April. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear about the mission firsthand from experts involved in the mission, conduct interviews, and photograph the satellite in the cleanroom.[...]
2028TBD - GRACE-C - TBD - TBD
Launched:№ – Date - Satellite(s) - Rocket - Launch Site - Time (UTC)2029Q3 - ARRAKIHS - Vega C - Kourou ELV (or early 2030’s)
... ARRAKIHS launched in 2030
Peter B. de Selding @pbdes.@EutelsatGroup , spending $2.3B for 440 #OneWeb Gen 1 follow-ons starting this year and $2.1B for 264 #Iris2 LEO satellites starting 2028, is now hunting for export-credit support. @Bpifrance @defis_eu @esa @CNES @DGA @SES_Satellites @Hispasat . https://www.spaceintelreport.com/eutelsat-spending-2-3b-for-440-oneweb-gen-1-follow-ons-2-1b-for-264-iris2-leos-hunts-for-export-credit-financing/
Eutelsat, spending $2.3B for 440 OneWeb Gen 1 follow-ons & $2.1B for 264 Iris2 LEOs, hunts for export-credit financingwritten by Peter B. de Selding February 14, 2025LA PLATA, Maryland — Eutelsat expects to deploy 440 OneWeb Gen-1 follow-on satellites starting in late 2026 as part of an investment of up to 2.2 billion euros ($2.3 billion) before it begins launching the 264 LEO-orbit satellites planned for Europe’s Iris2 multi-orbit secure constellation around 2030, the company said Feb. 14.Eutelsat has estimated its Iris2 commitment at around 2 billion euros, with the spending backloaded so that it does not much overlap with the OneWeb investment. Eutelsat has already . . .
These dates seems to be outdated when compared with the ones EUMETSAT themselves listed at https://www.eumetsat.int/planned-launches:QuoteMetop-SGA1Planned: Sep – Nov 2025Metop-SGB1Planned: Jun – Aug 2026
Metop-SGA1Planned: Sep – Nov 2025Metop-SGB1Planned: Jun – Aug 2026
EUMETSAT has updated its launch service agreement with Arianespace, bringing forward the launch of the Metop Second Generation – A1 (Metop-SGA1) satellite to August 2025. Metop-SGA1, the first polar-orbiting satellite launched under the EUMETSAT Polar System – Second Generation (EPS-SG) programme and carrying the European Union’s Copernicus Sentinel-5 mission, is set to launch aboard the Ariane 6 rocket from Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
Metop-SGA1 Planned: August 2025
According to the ESA Director General Annual Press Conference, this is now targeting Q3 of this year.https://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/corporate/DGAnnualPressBriefing2025.pdf
Launch is still NET July. [Feb 13]Quote“These observations will soon be supplemented by data from the Meteosat Third Generation – Sounder 1 (MTG-S1) satellite, set for launch in July 2025, which will deliver crucial observations relevant for identifying early convective changes in the atmosphere, such as sudden shifts in temperature and humidity. These data will address key gaps in direct atmospheric observations.”Meteosat Third Generation - Sounder 1 and Copernicus Sentinel-4 [Jan 23]https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2025/02/Sentinel-4_on_MTG-Shttps://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2025/02/MTG-Sounder_satellite_over_the_equator
“These observations will soon be supplemented by data from the Meteosat Third Generation – Sounder 1 (MTG-S1) satellite, set for launch in July 2025, which will deliver crucial observations relevant for identifying early convective changes in the atmosphere, such as sudden shifts in temperature and humidity. These data will address key gaps in direct atmospheric observations.”
Airbus Defence and Space Linkedin [Feb 17]QuoteMetOp-SG family is complete ! ✅ Launch of Sat-A is scheduled in August this year on the third flight of Ariane 6, Sat-B is planned for mid 2026. 🚀
MetOp-SG family is complete ! ✅ Launch of Sat-A is scheduled in August this year on the third flight of Ariane 6, Sat-B is planned for mid 2026. 🚀
Arianespace @Arianespace(1/2) Flight #VA263: New launch date to be confirmed soonDue to further operations needed on a ground means, the launch initially planned on February 26 from Kourou, French Guiana, is postponed.The new launch date will be announced following the completion of these operations
Arianespace @Arianespace(2/2) Flight #VA263: New launch date to be confirmed soonAriane 6 and its passenger, the CSO-3 satellite, are in stable and safe conditions.
Flight VA263 now scheduled on March 3, 2025Ariane 625.02.2025New launch date for CSO-3 The additional operations on the ground means are now completed, authorizing Arianespace to launch on March 3, 2025, at 1:24 p.m. local time in Kourou, French Guiana (4:24 p.m. UTC, 5:24 p.m. CET). Ariane 6 and its passenger, the CSO-3 satellite, are in stable and safe conditions.
