ESA Space Transport

Busy season, indeed! Take a look at our January-March recap. Spoiler alert: launchers 🚀

#MediaInvitation: journalists are invited to join the online media briefing on 25 March ahead of the launch of #Smile on Vega‑C #VV29, launch window 8 April – 7 May 2026 from Europe’s Spaceport. Register by 23 March 👉 esa.int/Newsroom/Press…

Now targeting NET 23 March for launch of Mission ‘Onward and Upward’ due to unfavorable weather conditions in the launch area. Launch date remains subject to weather, safety and range infrastructure. Follow the launch live: youtube.com/live/MsbZj8Pxm…

Second mission. Same ambition. The @Amazonleo satellites for our next mission, VA268, have now arrived at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, marking a new step in the deployment of the Amazon Leo constellation. In the coming weeks, Arianespace will begin the launch campaign, from satellite processing to integration on Ariane 6, preparing these payloads for their journey to low Earth orbit. The VA268 mission, designated LE-02 by Amazon, will fly on Ariane 6 in its four-booster configuration, a powerful setup particularly adapted to support the sustained deployment of large constellations. This mission is the second of 18 launches planned under our contract with Amazon, reflecting a long-term partnership built on performance, reliability and shared ambition to expand global connectivity from space. More updates soon from Kourou. #LaunchingAmbitions @ArianeGroup @esa @CNES @EuropeSpacePort

A look back at 2025 for Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana: esa.int/Enabling_Suppo…

#MediaInvitation: journalists are invited to join a one‑off opportunity to see three ESA-built satellites in their final preparations before liftoff, at @Thales_Alenia_S, Cannes, on 16 April 2026. Register by 31 March 👉 esa.int/Newsroom/Press…

This is what #VV29 will look like in space 🚀 Smile (the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer) is a joint mission between @esascience and @CAS__Science. Europe’s Vega-C rocket can launch 2300 kg into space, such as small scientific and Earth observation spacecraft. @Avio_Group @EuropeSpacePort @esa

Nothing beats a smooth sail 🌴 Back in January, the first 3 stages of the next Vega-C rocket arrived in French Guiana! #VV29 Manufactured in mainland Europe, the stages were transported by Canopée, the first custom-built transporter to use sails, reducing emissions and saving on fuel by up to 30%.

Today starts the Future Space Transportation Spring Session 2026 in Paris. The event brings @esa, industry, investors and Member State delegates to review progress across Europe’s space transportation activities. Tune in on #ESAWebTV2 to follow live from 14:00: watch.esa.int

Look who just arrived in French Guiana 👀 Next step: unload and transfer to @EuropeSpacePort, to open the container and see Smile one last time before launch.

@rfa_space @SaxaVord_Space Congratulations, can't wait to see it fly! 🚀

🚀 A major milestone on the road to RFA ONE’s orbital test flight! We have delivered the first and second stages of our RFA ONE launch vehicle to @SaxaVord_Space in Scotland. This marks an important step as we move toward our first orbital launch, currently planned for summer 2026. Over the past 18 months, our teams have advanced the development of both stages, with improvements to the Helix engine, tank pressurization systems, and operating procedures. The causes of the incident during a hot fire test in August 2024 have been fully understood and resolved. The newly built first stage was tested in Augsburg and has arrived in early February at the launch site, where it will be integrated with its nine Helix engines, currently undergoing final acceptance testing at @SSCspace, Sweden. Our second stage, following a successful hot fire test campaign at Esrange Space Center, has now also safely arrived at SaxaVord and is undergoing final checks. There is still work ahead, but reaching this point is a significant achievement for the entire team. With both stages now at the spaceport, the next phase begins: vehicle integration and stage testing ahead of the first launch campaign this summer! Learn more in our press release ▶️ lnkd.in/gvk3YPB6

Smile is an @esascience / @CAS__Science satellite, launching on a Vega-C rocket, flight #VV29. @ESA owns the Vega-C programme, working with Avio as prime contractor and design authority. Avio is also the launch service operator for this Smile launch. French space agency @CNES maintains the Vega-C launch facilities at @EuropeSpacePort.

Stacked! The Vega-C rocket that will launch @esascience's Smile satellite is being built up at @EuropeSpacePort Stage 1...2...3... and 4 are on the launch pad.

SPACECRAFT WITH SUPERPOWERS? Yes please. esa.int/Enabling_Suppo…

Swiss companies @CompPairTech and CSEM with Belgium's Com&Sens partnered with @esa to modify their self-healing carbon fibre product for use in space transportation.

What if spacecraft could be made of a material that heals itself? 🩹♻️ Project Cassandra is developing a carbon-fibre material with sensors to detect damage and a heating element, allowing spacecraft to autonomously repair initial stages of damage. esa.int/Enabling_Suppo…

📣 Call for journalists: attend the Smile launch media event at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana! Smile is a scientific collaboration between ESA and the Chinese Academy of Science. The mission will study how Earth responds to the solar wind. Registration details 👉 esa.int/Newsroom/Press… 1/2

@esa 🤝 @esa @DLR_en @ArianeGroup

Part of @esa's Future Launcher Preparatory Programme, Greta is less toxic and has a lower carbon footprint than most traditional rocket engines in the 5 kN thrust range. This type of engine could be used on lunar landers or on kick stages, such as Astris that is being developed for #Ariane6. esa.int/Enabling_Suppo…

Meet Greta, a new European rocket engine 🔥 A 5 kN thrust class rocket engine fuelled by hydrogen peroxide and ethanol, which can be restarted several times. Greta fired for over 40 seconds continuously, multiple times, showing stable operations, including controlled shutdowns. 🎥 @ArianeGroup