Stories from Kourou · France

Ariane 6 successfully completed its second flight of the year, utilizing a version equipped with four boosters capable of carrying 20 tonnes into space. The launch is described as an essential commercial success for Europe to assert autonomy in space access.

The Ariane 64 rocket is scheduled to launch the Amazon Leo (LE-02) mission on April 30, 2026. The launch window is set for 02:00:00 UTC and 08:08:00 UTC.

The Ariane 64 rocket is scheduled for launch on April 30, 2026. The mission involves the Amazon Leo (LE-02) payload.

Aerospace company Avio has concluded its investigation into a subsystem component production line issue. The company is now aiming for a May 19 launch of the European Space Agency's SMILE mission. This follows technical scrutiny of the production process to ensure mission readiness. The Vega-C rocket is scheduled for launch on May 19, 2026, at 03:52:00Z. The mission will carry the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) payload. The launch status is currently listed as 'Go for Launch'. The Vega-C launch vehicle is scheduled for deployment on May 19, 2026, at 03:52 UTC. The first launch window is currently set for May 12, 2026, with a second window on May 19, 2026.

The Ariane 64 mission, designated Amazon Leo (LE-02), is scheduled for launch on April 30, 2026. PDT from Space Launch Complex 4 East. Two launch windows are noted for 02:00:00Z and 08:08:00Z. Europe's Arianespace is scheduled to launch 32 satellites for Amazon's Kuiper orbital project later this week. The launch will utilize an Ariane 6 rocket from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. This follows a previous launch of 29 satellites via a US United Launch Alliance rocket. The mission aims to expand the Kuiper satellite constellation. A SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket is scheduled to launch the Starlink Group 17-29 mission on May 3, 2026, at 06:59:00 UTC. A second launch window for the same group is set for May 6, 2026, at 02:00:00 UTC. The mission is designated as the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE).