European Rocket Launches in 2025
| Date | Launch Site | Operator | Rocket | Mission | Payload | Customer | Orbit | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Future Launches ↓ | ||||||||
| Esrange | Improved Malemute | ORIGIN | ORIGIN | KTH | Suborbital | |||
| Feb | CSG - ELA-4 | Arianespace | Ariane 6 | VA262 | CSO-3 | CNES / DGA | SSO | |
| Mar | Esrange | MORABA / SNSA | Improved Orion | REXUS-33 | DLR / SNSA | Suborbital | ||
| Mar | Esrange | MORABA / SNSA | Improved Orion | REXUS-34 | DLR / SNSA | Suborbital | ||
| Q1 | CSG - ELA-1 | Arianespace | Vega C | VV26 | BIOMASS | ESA | SSO | |
| Q1 | CSG - ELA-1 | Arianespace | Vega C | VV27 | CO3D × 4 | CNES | SSO | |
| Q3 | CSG - ELA-1 | Arianespace | Vega C | VV28 | SMILE | ESA / CAS | Highly elliptical | |
| Q3 | CSG - ELA-4 | Arianespace | Ariane 6 | Metop-SG A1 / Sentinel-5A | EUMETSAT | SSO | ||
| Sep | Esrange | MORABA | Red Kite/Impr. Malemute | MAPHEUS-16 | DLR | Suborbital | ||
| Oct | CSG - ELA-1 | Arianespace | Vega C | VV29 | Sentinel-1D | ESA | SSO | |
| Oct | Esrange | SSC | VSB-30 | MASER-17 | ||||
| Oct | Esrange | MORABA | VSB-30 | TEXUS-61 | DLR / ESA | |||
| Nov | CSG - ELA-1 | Arianespace | Vega C | PLATiNO-2 / MAIA | ASI / JPL | SSO | ||
| SaxaVord - Fredo | Rocket Factory Augsburg | RFA ONE | AllBertEinStein (TU Munich)ARTICA (SPACEMIND)Curium Two (PTS)ERMINAZ (AMSAT-Deutschland)PCIOD (DCUBED)Seperation Ring Mission (SPACEMIND)SpaceDREAM (Kinetik Space) | SSO |
If there is an error or an omission, please contact andrewp@europeanspaceflight.com
European institutional rocket launches in 2024
In 2025, Europe is set to solidify its position as a key player in the global space industry. Following the long-awaited debut of the Ariane 6 rocket in 2024, 2025 will mark the rocket’s operational ramp-up, with several high-profile institutional launches scheduled. Ariane 6, developed by ArianeGroup, is expected to carry critical payloads for European governments and institutions, cementing its role as Europe’s heavy-lift workhorse.
The Vega C rocket, which returned to flight in late 2024, will see its operational cadence increase in 2025. Among its major missions this year is the launch of ESA’s BIOMASS satellite, a groundbreaking mission to monitor global forests and track carbon levels with unprecedented precision. Another high-profile payload is the SMILE (Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer) spacecraft, a collaborative mission between ESA and the Chinese Academy of Sciences to study space weather and its effects on Earth. With a renewed focus on reliability and performance, Vega C is poised to meet Europe’s medium-lift launch requirements and regain its reputation as a dependable launch vehicle for institutional missions.
Commercial European Rocket Launches in 2025
The commercial rocket launch scene in Europe is heating up, with 2025 likely to see significant breakthroughs. Rocket Factory Augsburg, Isar Aerospace, Orbex, and Skyrora are expected to advance their launch schedules following mixed progress in 2024. These startups aim to deliver commercial payloads to orbit, representing Europe’s growing ability to compete with established global players in the small-to-medium launch vehicle market.
Sovereign European launch facilities will continue to expand their capabilities, with SaxaVord Spaceport in Scotland, Sutherland Spaceport, and Norway’s Andøya Spaceport likely hosting their first operational commercial launches. These flights will mark critical milestones in establishing Europe as a hub for private space ventures.
European Suborbital Rocket Launches in 2025
Suborbital launches remain an important part of Europe’s space ambitions, supporting science, technology demonstrations, and atmospheric studies. In 2025, ESA, DLR, though its MORABA team, and other institutional bodies will conduct suborbital test flights from various European sites. Commercial companies like SpaceForrest, Opus Aerospace, and PLD Space are planning a series of suborbital missions to showcase their reusable rocket technologies.
Additionally, T-Minus Engineering will conduct two significant suborbital missions in 2025. The first is the T-Minus Pathfinder mission launching from Ireland, marking a key milestone for the country’s emerging role in Europe’s space sector. The second is a launch from a floating platform off the coast of Germany, demonstrating innovative sea-based launch capabilities and adding flexibility to Europe’s suborbital infrastructure.
