Meet the Pléiades-Neo series of Earth observation satellites for France.

Built by Airbus Defence and Space, the constellation will have four satellites, each able to clearly see objects as small as 30 cm on the ground from 700 km orbits.

The four satellites will use lasers to communicate and transmit data to the ground through the European Data Relay Satellite system.

This compact dispenser-free launch configuration saves volume and mass, as well as reducing cost. Simultaneously testing both satellites in their stacked launch configuration enabled significant time saving, with only four days needed to pass both the three axes Sine testing and the acoustic test.

The satellites are highly reactive to urgent situations and can respond within 30 to 40 minutes following a request to observe an area in their field of view - which is five times faster than previous constellations, allowing them to respond to the most critical situations in near real-time.

Image Credit: Airbus

ESA’s Vega-C is a next-generation launch vehicle that succeeds the original Vega rocket, offering enhanced performance, greater payload volume, and increased competitiveness. Operating from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, Vega-C strengthens Europe’s independent access to space and supports a wider range of missions, including return-to-Earth operations with ESA's upcoming reusable Space Rider vehicle.

Specs

Height: 34.8 m (114 ft)

Diameter: 3.4 m (11 ft)

Mass: 210,000 kg (460,000 lb)

Stages: 4

Payload to sun-synchronous orbit: 2,300 kg (5,100 lb)

Payload to polar orbit: 2,250 kg (4,960 lb)

Vega-C is designed to accommodate a variety of missions, from launching small CubeSats to carrying a single large satellite. It features significant upgrades over its predecessor, including new solid propulsion stages, an enhanced upper stage with reignition capability, a larger fairing for increased volume, and upgraded ground infrastructure.

Its upper stage, AVUM+ (Attitude Vernier Upper Module), enables precise orbital insertions and multiple burns, making it ideal for delivering multiple payloads to different orbits in a single mission. Once all payloads are deployed, AVUM+ performs a final deorbit burn to minimize space debris.

Vega-C’s development and operations are supported by multiple ESA member states, reflecting broad European cooperation. Participating countries include Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Courtesy of ESA

The Ensemble de Lancement Vega (ELV) pad at the Centre Spatial Guyanais (Guiana Space Centre) was previously used to launch the Europa, Ariane 1, Ariane 2, and Ariane 3 rockets under a different name.

It hosted its first launch on November 5, 1971, when a Europa rocket carried the STV-4 payload. The pad was last used in 1989 for the final Ariane 3 launch before going unused until 2012, when Vega began operations.

Located in French Guiana, the ELV pad is part of the French and European spaceport near Kourou, on the northern coast of South America.

Guiana Space Centre

The Guiana Space Centre has been operational since 1968, serving the European Space Agency (ESA), the French National Centre for Space Studies (CNES), and commercial companies such as Arianespace and Azercosmos.

A total of nine different rocket types have launched from the spaceport, including three active rockets and six retired vehicles.

The current launch vehicles operating from the Guiana Space Centre include:

Ariane 5 – for heavy payloads.

Soyuz 2 (provided by Russia) – for medium-mass satellites.

Vega – for smaller spacecraft.

The spaceport is also preparing for the upcoming Ariane 6, Vega C, and Vega E rockets, which are currently under development.

Photo courtesy of Arianespace