Vega-C flight VV26 is scheduled on 29 April

On Tuesday April 29th, 2025, at 6:15 a.m. local time (09:15 a.m. UTC, 11:15 a.m. CEST), Vega-C is to launch the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Earth Explorer Biomass satellite from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

The Biomass mission is designed to deliver crucial information about the state of our forests and how they are changing, and to further our knowledge of the role forests play in the Earth’s carbon cycle.

How to watch the launch ? 

From French Guiana 

The Europe’s spaceport offers two observation sites where you can experience a launch: the Carapa site, with free access, and the Ibis site, accessible by reservation only.

Situated 18km from the Ariane 6 launch pad and 15km from the Vega-C launch pad, both sites offer a breathtaking view of the launch.

Located at the entrance of Kourou, the Carapa viewing site is open to the public without reservation, subject to availability (1,450 people). It will open two hours before lift-off. There are no age restrictions for access. 

Reservations for the Ibis viewing site are not available yet. They will open approximatively two weeks before the scheduled launch date on our dedicated website. Stay tuned !

There are other public places, such as Pim Poum beach in Kourou and Monkey Mountain, where you can watch the take-off freely. There are no broadcasts, but the views and scenery are breathtaking!

And outside Europe's spaceport ?

Follow the launch on Arianespace YouTube channel or on ESA web TV.