N° 65–2025: Media invitation: Sentinel-1D launch event in Darmstadt, Germany
22 October 2025
Media representatives are cordially invited to follow the launch of the Copernicus Sentinel-1D satellite live from ESA’s European Space Operations (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany, on Tuesday 4 November 2025.
Journalists will be joined at the mission launch event by ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher, European Commission Director for Space Policy, Satellite Navigation and Earth Observation, Christoph Kautz, and other senior ESA experts in Earth Observation and Space Operations, industry managers and members of Copernicus user communities.
The launch of Sentinel-1D aboard an Ariane 6 heavy launcher from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, scheduled for 22:02 CET (21:02 GMT), will be broadcast live. Journalists will also get a chance to observe the critical 'launch and early orbit phase' locally as the ESA control centre will take over the satellite in orbit.
About Sentinel-1D
Sentinel-1D is part of Europe's highly performant Copernicus Earth observation programme. Its mission is to ensure continuity and enhancement of land and ocean monitoring services via the Sentinel satellite fleet.
For Sentinel-1D this comprises: All-weather, day-and-night radar imaging of Earth's surface.
Monitoring land deformation, subsidence and tectonic activity.
Tracking sea ice, oil spills and marine traffic.
Supporting emergency response during natural disasters like floods and earthquakes.
The Sentinel-1D satellite belongs to the Copernicus programme, which serves as the Earth observation component of the European Union's Space Programme. Copernicus is primarily overseen and financed by the European Union, with additional support provided by the European Space Agency (ESA).
Sentinel-1 has been designed and built by a consortium of around 60 companies led by Thales Alenia Space.
Media programme at ESOC
17:30 Doors open / Security check-in for media and official guests
18:00-19:00 Informal discussions and visit of satellite control rooms in small groups
19:00–19:50 Media briefing in Press Centre H 05, Q & A, interviews
20:00 Doors open to high-level stage programme in conference centre
Official welcome and panel talks
21:36 Start of live TV feed from Europe’s Spaceport via Arianespace
22:02 Liftoff of Ariane 6 with Sentinel-1D
23:30 End of VIP stage event in main conference room H building
23:35 Concluding press conference in press centre H 05
(in concert with media in Europe's Spaceport in Kourou) with:
- Josef Aschbacher, Director General, European Space Agency (ESA)
- Christoph Kautz, Director for Space Policy, Satellite Navigation and Earth Observation, European Commission (DEFIS)
- Simonetta Cheli, Director of Earth Observation Programmes, ESA
- Rolf Densing, Director of Operations, Head of ESOC, ESA
(further visits of main control room, subject to ongoing operations, and interview opportunities in H 05 )
00:30 End of overall event and press activities
Key spokespeople and senior experts from ESA, Thales Alenia Space (prime contractor), Airbus, national space agency managers, scientific partners and user communities will be available on site for interviews, including:
- Josef Aschbacher, Director General, European Space Agency (ESA)
- Christoph Kautz, Director for Space Policy, Satellite Navigation and Earth Observation, European Commission (DEFIS)
- Simonetta Cheli, Director of Earth Observation Programmes, ESA
- Rolf Densing, Director of Operations, Head of ESOC, ESA
- Guy Pilchen, Ariane 6 Programmes Manager, Directorate of Space Transportation, ESA
- Enrico Zampolini, Vice President Observation & Navigation, Italy, Thales Alenia Space (Prime Contractor)
- Wolfgang Seefelder, Head of Microwave Instruments, Airbus Defence and Space
- Representatives of Copernicus data user communities, start-ups, etc.
Small snacks and refreshments for journalists will be served at the Press Centre (ESOC H 05) throughout the evening.
Mandatory media registration
Interested journalists are kindly requested to register by Thursday, 30 October 2025, 17:00 CET at the latest at: https://blogs.esa.int/forms/esa-media-briefing-form
The European Space Operations Centre is a secured facility, for check-in please make sure to bring along a valid picture ID.
How to get to ESOC: www.esa.int/esoc (Darmstadt, DE, 20 min. south of Frankfurt airport)
Media relations contacts on site
ESA Media Relations - lead
Bernhard.von.Weyhe@esa.int, Simona.Nichiteanu@ext.esa.int, media@esa.int
European Commission DG DEFIS, Spokesperson,
Thomas Regnier thomas.regnier@ec.europa.eu
Thales Alenia Space
catherine.des-arcis@thalesaleniaspace.com
Airbus Defense and Space
About Sentinel-1D and Copernicus
Sentinel satellite missions provide crucial data and services for environmental monitoring. They enhance our understanding of Earth's systems and the effects of human activities on natural processes, while also supplying critical information for civil security and disaster management. Sentinel-1D is the fourth satellite in the Sentinel-1 mission; once launched, it will operate along Sentinel-1A and Sentinel-1C in providing radar imagery, supporting numerous applications including Arctic monitoring, maritime surveillance (e.g. oil spills, ship detection), land cover monitoring (agriculture, forestry, etc.) and ground deformation (e.g. subsidence and landslides) in all weather conditions.
The Sentinel-1 mission – and the Copernicus programme more broadly – is quite exemplary in that it truly showcases Europe’s excellence and global leadership in space. It is also testament to the close cooperation between the European Space Agency, the European Commission and Participating States, illustrating the ability of our organisations to work together successfully to serve Europe’s needs, contribute to economic development, environmental protection and security, and increase citizens’ well-being.
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About the European Space Agency
The European Space Agency (ESA) provides Europe’s gateway to space.
ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
ESA has 23 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia are Associate Members.
ESA has established formal cooperation with four Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.
By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. It is working in particular with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes as well as with Eumetsat for the development of meteorological missions.
Learn more about ESA at www.esa.int
About the European Commission
The Directorate General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS) leads the European Commission’s activities in the European defence industry and European space sectors. The European Commission is the owner and programme manager of the EU Space Programme. Its activities include assessing current trends, identifying emerging challenges, and ensuring that the objectives of the Space Programme are aligned with broader EU priorities such as innovation, economic growth, and security.
More about the role of the Commission here.