Vega-C Launch Schedule

Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE)

Avio S.p.A

TBD

Apr 2026

Joint mission between the European Space Agency and the Chinese Academy of Sciences to investigate the interaction between Earth’s protective shield – the magnetosphere – and the supersonic solar wind.

Last Update: NET April 8.

Sentinel-3C & FLEX

Avio S.p.A

TBD

Sep 2026

Sentinel-3C is the third satellite in the Sentinel-3 constellation, which provides high-accuracy optical, radar and altimetry data for marine and land services. The Fluorescence Explorer (FLEX) satellite is a part of ESA's Earth Explorer program. The satellite will map vegetation fluorescence to quantify photosynthetic activity.

Last Update: NET September 1st, together with FLEX.

KOMPSAT-6 & PLATiNO 1

Arianespace

TBD

Nov 2026

Korean Multi-purpose Satellite 6 (KOMPSAT-6) is the sixth South Korean Earth observation satellite of the KOMPSAT series. It is equipped with a synthetic aperture radar with a ground resolution between 0.5 and 20 meters. PLATiNO 1 is an experimental X-band SAR earth observation satellite project by the Italian Space Agency (ASI), with a radar payload from Thales Alenia Space Italia. The X-band SAR will first operate in passive mode at 619 km altitude, then in active mode after the satellites moves lower to a 410 km orbit.

Last Update: NET November 2026

IRIDE 1

Avio S.p.A

TBD

2026

First dedicated launch for the European Space Agency's IRIDE Earth observation constellation.

Updated: Jan 9, 9:30am UTC

IRIDE 2

Avio S.p.A

TBD

2026

Second dedicated launch for the European Space Agency's IRIDE Earth observation constellation.

Updated: Jan 8, 10:00pm UTC

FLEX

Avio S.p.A

TBD

Apr 2027

The Fluorescence Explorer (FLEX) satellite is a part of ESA's Earth Explorer program. The satellite will map vegetation fluorescence to quantify photosynthetic activity.

Last Update: NET April 2027, most likely with ALTIUS

Vega-C | PLATiNO 2

Avio S.p.A

TBD

Jun 2027

Last Update: NET June 2027

CSG-4

Avio S.p.A

TBD

Jun 2027

CSG-4 is an Earth observation satellite for the Italian Space Agency, part of a reconnaissance constellation using synthetic aperture radars operating in the X-band.

Last Update: NET H1 2027.

Altius

Avio S.p.A

TBD

Sep 2027

ALTIUS is a satellite mission proposed by the Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy to monitor the distribution and evolution of stratospheric ozone in the Earth's atmosphere.

Last Update: NET September 2027

Sentinel CO2M-A

Avio S.p.A

TBD

Nov 2027

Sentinel CO2M-A carries a near-infrared and shortwave-infrared spectrometer to measure atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by human activity, providing the EU with a unique and independent source of information, to assess the effectiveness of policy measures, and to track their impact towards decarbonizing Europe and meeting national emission reduction targets.

Last Update: NET November 2027

EAGLE-1

Avio S.p.A

TBD

2027

SES satellite to support the end-to-end secure Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) system for Europe.

Last Update: NET 2027.

FORUM

Avio S.p.A

TBD

2027

FORUM (Far-infrared Outgoing Radiation Understanding and Monitoring) is a satellite from the European Space Agency designed to provide insight into Earth's radiation budget using a Fourier transform spectrometer.

Updated: Feb 25, 5:30pm UTC

FORUM

Avio S.p.A

TBD

2027

FORUM (Far-infrared Outgoing Radiation Understanding and Monitoring) is a mission from the European Space Agency (ESA) carrying a Fourier transform spectrometer. It is designed to measure Earth’s outgoing radiation in the far-infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum that has previously never been measured from space.

Updated: Dec 27, 1:30pm UTC

FORMOSAT-8C

Avio S.p.A

TBD

2027

High-resolution optical Earth observation satellite.

Updated: Jan 7, 2:01am UTC

Amazonia-1B

Avio S.p.A

TBD

2027

Earth observation satellite designed to monitor deforestation in the Amazon region, as well as support agricultural monitoring for the Brazilian National Institute for Space Research (INPE).

Updated: Jan 28, 11:30pm UTC

Sentinel CO2M-B

Avio S.p.A

TBD

Mar 2028

Sentinel CO2M-B carries a near-infrared and shortwave-infrared spectrometer to measure atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by human activity, providing the EU with a unique and independent source of information, to assess the effectiveness of policy measures, and to track their impact towards decarbonizing Europe and meeting national emission reduction targets.

Last Update: NET March 2028

Pléiades Neo Next 1

Avio S.p.A

TBD

Mar 2028

First Pléiades Neo Next satellite, improving on the Pléiades Neo observation satellite design to provide 20-cm-class native resolution.

Updated: Jan 28, 11:30pm UTC

Sentinel-3D

Avio S.p.A

TBD

2028

Sentinel-3D is the fourth satellite in the Sentinel-3 constellation, which provides high-accuracy optical, radar and altimetry data for marine and land services.

Last Update: NET December 2028

FORMOSAT-9A

Avio S.p.A

TBD

2028

X-band SAR Earth observation satellite.

Updated: Jan 7, 2:01am UTC

FORMOSAT-8D

Avio S.p.A

TBD

2028

High-resolution optical Earth observation satellite.

Updated: Jan 7, 2:01am UTC

ClearSpace-1

Avio S.p.A

TBD

2029

First debris removal mission by the Swiss startup ClearSpace. Contracted by the European Space Agency, it is designed to catch and de-orbit part of a Vega rocket from Low Earth Orbit using four articulated arms.

Last Update: NET 2029.

Harmony

Avio S.p.A

TBD

2029

Harmony, ESA's 10th Earth Explorer mission, consists of 2 satellites that will orbit Earth in tandem with a Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite in various configurations. The Harmony satellites’ synthetic aperture radar instruments will receive the Sentinel-1 satellite's radar signals that bounce back, or ‘backscatter’, from Earth’s surface. At the same time, Harmony’s thermal-infrared instruments provide complementary observations of the sea surface as well as the position and motion of clouds above it.

Updated: Oct 20, 10:30am UTC

SBG-TIR

Avio S.p.A

TBD

2029

The Surface Biology and Geology - Thermal Infrared (SBG-TIR) Earth Observation mission aims to provide radiometric and multispectral measurements of terrestrial and aquatic emissions for climate, ecological, and geological analyses, and to support practical applications such as food security and water management. The thermal infrared (TIR) radiometer is provided by NASA, while the VIS-NIR camera is provided by ASI. Their combination ensures high-quality observations, enabling the investigation of terrestrial and marine ecosystems, monitoring of water resources, and phenomena related to high temperatures such as wildfires and volcanic eruptions.

Updated: Feb 25, 5:30pm UTC

TRUTHS

Avio S.p.A

TBD

2030

TRUTHS (Traceable Radiometry Underpinning Terrestrial- and Helio-Studies) is a a ‘standards laboratory in space’, setting the ‘gold standard’ reference for climate measurements. Carrying a cryogenic solar absolute radiometer and a hyperspectral imaging spectrometer as well as a novel onboard calibration system, TRUTHS is designed to make continuous measurements of incoming solar radiation and reflected radiation to evaluate Earth’s energy-in to energy-out ratio.

Updated: Jul 22, 11:30pm UTC