The mission, designated VA266, will mark the fourth commercial flight of the Ariane 6 and is currently scheduled for late 2025 following the November launch of the Copernicus Sentinel-1D Earth observation satellite.
Operated by Arianespace, VA266 will carry a pair of new Galileo L14 satellites into medium Earth orbit, adding to Europe’s growing constellation of navigation satellites.
The Ariane 6 represents the next generation of European launch capability, developed by ArianeGroup under the leadership of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission.
The modular rocket is designed to offer lower-cost, flexible access to space for both government and commercial customers, replacing the long-serving Ariane 5, which was retired in 2023.
The upcoming Galileo mission will fly aboard an Ariane 62 configuration featuring two solid rocket boosters, which has been successfully used since the system’s inaugural flight in 2024.
The more powerful Ariane 64, designated mission VA267, is scheduled to make its next flight shortly after equipped with four boosters, carrying satellites for Amazon’s Project Kuiper broadband constellation.
The Galileo system, managed by the European Union Agency for the Space Programme and operated in partnership with ESA, provides high-precision navigation and timing services worldwide.
Unlike the US GPS or China’s BeiDou systems, Galileo is fully civilian controlled, offering accuracy down to within 20 centimetres for authorised users.
With more than 30 satellites already in orbit, Galileo has become a cornerstone of Europe’s space autonomy and resilience, supporting critical applications ranging from aviation and maritime safety to telecommunications, emergency response and precision agriculture.
The successful deployment of the Galileo L14 satellites aboard Ariane 6 will further consolidate Europe’s independent access to space and strengthen its leadership in global satellite navigation – a key strategic capability amid growing competition in low-Earth and medium Earth orbit.
Launch dates for both the Galileo (VA266) and Project Kuiper (VA267) missions are expected to be confirmed roughly one month prior to lift-off.