ESA and its partners are planning a wide range of media activities before and during the launch of Sentinel-1D on board Ariane 6, flight VA265, which is expected to take place no earlier than early November 2025, including online pre-launch press briefings.
Unboxing a satellite!The @CopernicusEU Sentinel-1D spacecraft has arrived at the launch site and it has been taken out of its shipping container and put on its dolly. This dolly holds the satellite in various positions, allowing the engineers to access different parts of the craft.
https://twitter.com/Arianespace/status/1975117446718624215
Arianespace to launch EU's Copernicus Sentinel-1D satellite on November 4, 2025, with Ariane 6 * On November 4, 2025, with Ariane 6, Arianespace will place into orbit Sentinel-1D, a Copernicus satellite for the European Commission within the scope of a contract signed with the European Space Agency (ESA). * The Sentinel-1D satellite is designed to carry an advanced radar instrument to provide an all-weather day-and-night supply of imagery of Earth's surface. * The VA265 mission will be the third commercial flight for Ariane 6, Europe's new heavy-lift launcher. * With this launch, Arianespace supports a major environmental mission while also carrying out its commitment of guaranteeing Europe's autonomous access to space.On November 4, 2025 at 6:03 p.m. local time (9:03 p.m. UTC, 10:03 p.m. CET), Arianespace will launch the Sentinel-1D satellite with Ariane 6 from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.The mission, designated VA265, will be the third commercial flight for Ariane 6, the new European heavy-lift launcher. The satellite will be placed into Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO) at an altitude of approximately 693 km. Spacecraft separation will occur around 34 minutes after lift-off.The Sentinel-1D satellite is part of Copernicus, the Earth observation component of the European Union's Space Programme. Copernicus is managed and funded by the European Union with a partial contribution of ESA. 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.Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67 %) and Leonardo (33 %), is the prime contractor of Sentinel-1D which arrived in French Guiana on September 11th, 2025.The VA265 mission once again highlights Arianespace's commitment to space for a better life on Earth, as well as ensuring Europe's autonomous access to space.The VA265 launch at a glance: * 356th launch by Arianespace * 4th Ariane 6 launch and 3rd commercial flight * 10% of the satellites launched by Arianespace are Earth observation satellites * 7th Sentinel satellite launched by Arianespace * 53rd mission for the European Space Agency * 109th spacecraft built by Thales Alenia Space launched by ArianespaceFor any request to receive the clean feed of the launch broadcast, please contact: Camille SOHIER - [email protected]
ESA Earth Observation@ESA_EO·After a successful series of checks in Kourou, @CopernicusEU Sentinel-1D has been confirmed in excellent health.Next up: final pre-launch preparations, with liftoff targeted for 4 November.
Connected! The upper stage and main stage for the next #Ariane6 launch were joined @EuropeSpacePort on 10 October.The two stages form the central core that will take @CopernicusEU Sentinel-1D Earth observer to orbit.
When fueling images start coming in… you know launch is near 🚀The @CopernicusEU Sentinel-1D satellite is now in Kourou, gearing up for liftoff on 4 November aboard an #Ariane6 rocket.
29 October, 14:00–15:00 CET (German)Speakers: • Julia Kubanek, Earth Observation Campaign Coordinator, ESA • Hugo Zunker, Policy Officer, DG for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS), Unit D3 – Earth Observation, European Commission29 October, 15:00–16:00 CET (Spanish)Speaker: Ramon Torres Cuesta, Copernicus Senior Advisor, ESA30 October, 08:30–09:30 CET (English)Speakers: • Simonetta Cheli, Director of Earth Observation, ESA • Mauro Facchini, Head of Copernicus Unit, European Commission (DEFIS) • Giampiero Di Paolo, Deputy CEO, Senior Vice President Observation, Exploration and Navigation Domain, Thales Alenia Space • David Cavaillolès, CEO, Arianespace30 October, 09:30–10:30 CET (French)Speakers: • Simonetta Cheli, Director of Earth Observation, ESA • Mauro Facchini, Head of Copernicus Unit, European Commission (DEFIS) • Nicola Saggini, Head of AIT Test and Operations Management Department in Italy, Thales Alenia Space • David Cavaillolès, CEO, Arianespace30 October, 10:30–11:30 CET (Italian)Speakers: • Simonetta Cheli, Director of Earth Observation, ESA • Mauro Facchini, Head of Copernicus Unit, European Commission (DEFIS) • Enrico Zampolini, Vice President Observation & Navigation Domain Italy, Thales Alenia Space
ESA Earth Observation@ESA_EOJust over a week to go until launch for @CopernicusEU Sentinel-1D! Late last week, the satellite was encapsulated in the #Ariane6 rocket fairing.Liftoff is set for 22:02 CET (21:02 GMT) on 4 November.
Follow the online briefing on the launch scheduled for 4 November 2025. The Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission delivers radar images of Earth’s surface. It is vital for disaster response teams, environmental agencies, maritime authorities, climate scientists
