It has been a busy first quarter for @esa.int's Future Launchers Preparatory Programme ⌛️ Here is a round‑up of the news published between January and March 2026. Give it a read ⤵️

Mark your calendars 🗓️ The Smile mission is due to launch on Tuesday 19 May 2026, at 04:52 BST / 05:52 CEST on a European Vega-C rocket. That's going to require a lot of coffee ☕🥱 Stay tuned 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl... 🔭🧪☀️

The first full-size test model of @esa.int's Space Rider is complete 🥹🧡 We visited the Italian Aerospace Research Centre in Capua, Italy, and snapped a few photos and videos to show you! How cool is this?!

From Europa and Ariane 1, to Ariane 6 and Vega-C, we have a long history of Europe's launchers 🧡 The first Europa flight took place on 5 June 1964. Nowadays, ESA provides Europe with autonomous access to space through the Ariane and Vega launcher families, which will continue to evolve.

More boosters, more power 💥 As we wait for #VA268, check out this video to learn more about the most powerful version of Ariane 6, yet. On flight VA268, Ariane 6 with four boosters will carry 32 satellites for the Amazon Leo constellation. www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...

It's a date: the next Ariane 6 liftoff has been announced. 📅28 April 🪟08:51–09:39 UTC / 10:51–11:39 CEST 🛰️32 satellites for Amazon Leo constellation 🚀Ariane 6 with four boosters 🔢 Flight #VA268

3 satellites have secured their spots on upcoming flights 🎫 @eumetsat.int's MTG-I2 is scheduled for launch on Ariane 6 this summer. @esa.int's FLEX and Copernicus Sentinel-3C will be launched on the same Vega-C flight, due for liftoff in September 2026. Here's their last look in Europe ⤵️

As humans prepare to explore farther away with more cargo and more versatility, our current space technology is quickly reaching its limits. Nuclear-electric propulsion could provide a large source of power that solar panels or traditional propellants cannot achieve.

#LaunchedIt 🤗🧡

That's our baby, she's iconic 🫰 And couldn't be possible without a strong European team! Arianespace: launch service provider. Arianegroup: prime contractor and design authority. @cnes.fr: oversees Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana and is responsible for developing the Ariane 6 launch site.

Isar Aerospace is standing down from today’s launch attempt to evaluate a suspected leak in a composite overwrapped pressure vessel. We will keep you posted when we know more.

Isar Aerospace will countdown to the second launch of its Spectrum rocket, from Andøya Spaceport in northern Norway. The launch window opens on 9 April at 22:00 CEST (21:00 BST). Livestream starts one hour earlier, here ⤵️ www.youtube.com/live/Ss1DUqL...

ISAR Aerospace is now targeting NET 9 April for the launch of Mission ‘Onward and Upward’ during the available launch window, which opens at 22:00 CEST (20:00 UTC). The final date remains subject to weather, safety and range infrastructure.

Spring represents the start of something new – including projects 🌸 At @esa.int's Future Launchers Preparatory Programme Spring Session, 8 European companies and research institutes began working on projects under the FIRST! Sustainability campaign. spacetransportation.esa.int/news/?slug=d...

#VV29 has been postponed due to a technical issue occurred on a subsystem component production line after launcher integration. Vega-C and Smile are in stable and safe conditions. We'll keep you posted.

Smile is on the launch pad and secured to the Vega-C rocket that will take it to space. 🚀 📅Here's how to watch on 9 April, and what to watch out for: www.esa.int/Science_Expl...

ESA contributes with the payload module, the launch vehicle, one of the scientific instruments and part of the science operations. The Chinese Academy of Sciences contributes with three scientific instruments, the platform, and the mission and science operations. 🔭 🧪 ☀️ 2/2

Home is where our rockets are launched 🚀🧡 Last month, we opened up the doors of our home for a group of young space professionals. Here they are in front of the life-size model of Ariane 5, an iconic sign at the entrance of Europe's Spaceport!

It might sound like science-fiction, but three studies show what is possible ⚡️ The Rocketroll study tasked three teams to design a solution based on nuclear electric propulsion: Controlled fission > Electricity > Power to spacecraft The designs should include spacecrafts that fit inside Ariane 6.

Shielded up from the harsh surrounding environment it will endure in its ascent towards space, Smile is now safe and cozy inside the Vega-C fairing. As we've said before, encapsulation is the space equivalent to a hug, and we like hugs! 🤗 #VV29

Register for an online pitch day on 9 April to showcase and discuss innovations aimed at advancing Space Transportation reusability in Europe: indico.esa.int/event/652/ov...

🔴 Live now 🎤 Join us for the Smile media briefing ahead of launch 👉 watch.esa.int 🛰️ The European-Chinese mission will launch into space on a European Vega-C rocket on 9 April 🚀 🔭 🧪 ☀️

Zefiro-40 and Zefiro-9 fit together like a puzzle piece 🧩 The third stage of the Vega-C rocket, Zefiro-9, is the same as used on Vega and burns 10 tonnes of solid propellant. #VV29 🤝 @esa.int @science.esa.int @operations.esa.int

Isar Aerospace's launch was aborted during autosequence. After a hold in countdown due to a range violation of the danger area by an unauthorised boat, the countdown reset exceeded the launch window. Isar Aerospace is working towards a new launch date. Further updates will follow.

Don't miss Isar Aerospace's launch today 🚀 Livestream starts at 20:00 CET www.youtube.com/live/MsbZj8P...

New launch date alert 🚨 On 28 April, 32 more Amazon LEO satellites will be launched on Ariane 6 with four boosters. Read the full press release here: arianespace.pulse.ly/sbznyoagwo 🤝 @cnes.fr @esa.int

Dante Galli, ESA's Space Rider Programme Manager, talked about Space Rider on Italian television, Sky TG24! He showed a model of the Space Rider and explained how it can carry, for example, many experiments and even a robotic arm.

Fuelled for launch! ⛽ Specialists wearing ‘SCAPE’ suits filled Smile with fuel ahead of its launch on a Vega-C rocket on 9 April. Smile will use 90% of its fuel during the first month in space to gradually elongate its orbit until it ultimately reaches 121 000 km above the North Pole. 🔭 ☀️

#OTD 23 March 2012, launch of @esa.int third Automated Transfer Vehicle, ATV Edoardo Amaldi, to the International Space Station on Ariane 5 #VA205 from Europe's Spaceport 🧪🚀 www.esa.int/Science_Expl... @exploration.esa.int @transport.esa.int

Isar Aerospace has moved the launch to NET 25 March due to ongoing strong winds in the launch area. The launch window opens at 21:00 CET, subject to weather, safety and range infrastructure. Link to livestream: www.youtube.com/live/MsbZj8P...

🙂 The next launch from Europe's Spaceport will be Vega-C flight #VV29 taking @science.esa.int and the Chinese Academy of Science's Smile mission to space 🚀

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 👉 www.esa.int/Newsroom/Pre... @science.esa.int @transport.esa.int

Isar Aerospace is now targeting a launch no earlier than 23 March of their Spectrum rocket, due to unfavourable weather at Andøya Spaceport in Norway. www.esa.int/Enabling_Sup...

To build our Vega-C rocket we stack one stage on top of the other, gently 😊 Here the second Vega-C stage, Zefiro-40, is being hoisted onto the first stage P120C solid-propellant rocket motor. #VV29 🤝 @esa.int @science.esa.int @operations.esa.int

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

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

This is what #VV29 will look like in space 🚀 Smile, the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer, is a joint mission between @science.esa.int and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Europe’s Vega-C rocket can launch 2300 kg into space, like small scientific and Earth observation spacecraft.

Today is World Plumbing Day 💧 Let us talk about some of our most important pipes on the launch pad! @cnes.fr developed a water deluge system that to reduce the effect of the high acoustic shocks during liftoff.

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.int, 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 Europe's Spaceport, to open the container and see Smile one last time before launch.

Happy International Women’s Day! 🧡 Europe’s Ariane launchers carry a name inspired by a female figure in Greek mythology: Ariadne, the brave heroine who used her wisdom and creativity to guide Theseus through the labyrinth.

Stacked! The Vega-C rocket that will launch @science.esa.int's aurora-watching Smile satellite is being built up at Europe's Spaceport. Stage 1...2...3... and 4 are on the launch pad.

With the first Ariane 6 with four boosters, our fleet of rockets is complete 🚀 We will continue to work on upgrades to reduce costs, make our launch systems more robust and launch more often. For example, the powerful P160C rocket motor will replace P120C on both Ariane 6 and Vega-C rockets.

How are new rocket engines made? 💥 Greta has a 30-cm high combustion chamber made by using layer-by-layer metal deposition. This technique allows the manufacture of complex shapes, which would be difficult to achieve with conventional metallurgy.

Every launch is special 🚀 Flight #V158 made history. Ariane 5 reached speeds of 40 000 km/h for the first time taking Rosetta from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana into a heliocentric orbit.

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. Details: www.esa.int/Enabling_Sup...

Start the week with a Smile 😊 In preparation for Vega-C flight #VV29 that will take Smile to orbit from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana, we're building the rocket that will take her to space. The P120C solid booster and the Zefiro-40 stage have already been transferred to the launch zone.

There are a lot of faces people working on #Ariane6. This is Jörn, Head of Propulsion Test Facilities and Services. He has been involved in space transportation for 30 years. Now, his job is to make sure that our propulsion test benches are ready to use at any time. www.esa.int/Enabling_Sup...