On January 28, 2025, during the 17th European Space Conference, Arianespace signed two Ariane 6 launch contracts with the European Commission, the European Space Agency, and EUMETSAT.
The European heavy-lift rocket has been selected to deliver the new Sentinel-1D satellite in the second half of 2025. Meanwhile, the launch of the Metop-SG-A1 satellite is now scheduled for August 2025 aboard the VA264 mission, the second Ariane 6 commercial flight.

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A boost for European EO programs
The deployment of Sentinel-1D will complete the upgrade of the Sentinel-1 constellation, one of the most important in the Copernicus satellite fleet, the Earth Observation component of the EU’s Space Programme. The new spacecraft will be launched aboard an Ariane 62 ( two side boosters) and will join its sibling, Sentinel-1C, launched last December on a Vega C, thereby replacing Sentinel-1A, launched in 2014.
Sentinel-1 provides Copernicus with advanced Earth surface SAR imagery services, enhancing the monitoring of Arctic sea ice, ground deformation, and volcanic activity, as well as the mapping of forests, water, and soil resources.
The new satellites of the constellation are equipped with an integrated Automatic Identification System, which enables precise tracking of maritime traffic thanks to four onboard antennas.

As part of the EUMETSAT Polar System – Second Generation (EPS-SG) program, the Metop-SG-A1 satellite will enhance global weather and climate observation from polar orbit. It will deliver high-resolution data on temperature, precipitation, clouds, winds, sea ice, aerosols, soil moisture, volcanic dust, and more.
Copernicus will also benefit from this mission thanks to the Sentinel-5 payload carried onboard the satellite. A high-resolution spectrometer system that will support the monitoring of ozone, methane, carbon monoxide, and other trace gases, improving global air quality control.
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Increasing Ariane 6 launch cadence
The announcement of the two missions highlights the commitment of European institutions and Arianespace to boost the Ariane 6 launch program. Last year, the company stated its goal of achieving six flights in 2025.

The second launch, which will be the first commercial mission of the Ariane 6 rocket, is currently in preparation. The Ariane 62 vehicle is assembled on the launch pad at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Mission VA263 will deliver the CSO-3 satellite into a sun-synchronous orbit for the French Air and Space Force’s Space Command (CDE), as part of the Multinational Space-based Imaging System (MUSIS) program. This constellation is designed to provide high-resolution imagery for national defense needs and military operations.
Today, Arianespace announced that the launch is now scheduled for February 26 at 16:24 UTC.
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