Ariane 6, flight VA265, ready for the launch of Sentinel-1D satellite

On November 4, 2025 at 6:03 p.m. local time (9:03 p.m. UTC, 10:03 p.m. CET), Arianespace will launch the Sentinel-1D satellite with Ariane 6 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

The mission, designated VA265, will be the third commercial flight for Ariane 6, the new European heavy-lift launcher. The satellite will be placed into Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO) at an altitude of approximately 693 km. Spacecraft separation will occur around 34 minutes after lift-off.

The Sentinel-1D satellite is part of Copernicus, the Earth observation component of the European Union’s Space Programme. Copernicus is managed and funded by the European Union with a partial contribution of ESA. As the world’s most advanced Earth observation system, Copernicus provides continuous, free, and reliable Earth observation data and services to public authorities, companies and citizens around the globe. Sentinel-1D will carry advanced radar technology to provide an all-weather, day-and-night supply of imagery of the Earth’s surface, delivering data essential to monitoring sea ice, track icebergs and glaciers, subsidence, and oil spills.

Mark the launch time in your calendar now to experience the livestream:

• 18:02 Kourou time
• 22:02 Paris/Berlin time
• 16:02 Washington D.C. time
• 21:02 Universal time (UTC),
• 06:02 Tokyo time (on November 5)