European Ariane 6 Rocket Launch of Sentinel-1D Earth Observation Satellite

European Ariane 6 Rocket Launch of Sentinel-1D Earth Observation Satellite

Arianespace Ariane 6 rocket launch with European Space Agency Sentinel-1D Earth observation satellite in Kourou, French Guiana

 Sentinel-1D satellite safe inside the Ariane 6 rocket's fairing. The blue tiles inside the fairing serve as acoustic protection, dampening noise created during launch. 

European Space Agency Sentinel-1 Earth satellite series mission emblem

🚀✨ An Arianespace Ariane 6 rocket lifted off from Europe’s Kourou Spaceport in French Guiana 🌍on Mission VA265, November 4, 2025, at 6:02 p.m. local time, carrying the 🛰 Sentinel-1D Earth observation satellite. Part of the European Union's Copernicus Program, Sentinel-1D will deliver all-weather, Earth day & night radar imagery.

With Ariane 6, Arianespace successfully placed into orbit Sentinel-1D, a Copernicus satellite for the European Commission within the scope of a contract signed with the European Space Agency (ESA).

The Sentinel-1D satellite has an advanced radar instrument to provide all-weather day-and-night imagery of the Earth's surface.

The VA265 mission represents the third commercial flight for Europe's heavy-lift launcher Ariane 6

With this successful launch, Arianespace supports a major environmental mission, while also carrying out its commitment to provide Europe with independent access to space.

With this third commercial flight, Ariane 6, the European heavy-lift launcher operated by Arianespace, successfully placed Sentinel-1D into Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) at an altitude of 693 km. Spacecraft separation occurred 34 minutes after lift-off.

Learn more about the Sentinel-1D Satellite:
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-1/Sentinel-1_mission_did_you_know

Credit: Arianespace

Image Dates: Nov. 3-4, 2025

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