17 December 2025 – On December 17, 2025 at 2:01 a.m. local time (5:01 a.m. UTC, 6:01 a.m. CET), Arianespace successfully launched the pair of satellites, Galileo L14 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. The mission, called VA266, was the fifth flight of Ariane 6, Europe’s heavy-lift launcher. It was performed with an Ariane 6 with two boosters, the Ariane 62, which has been successful since its inaugural flight in 2024. The satellites designated SAT 33 and SAT 34 were placed into a medium Earth orbit at an altitude of approximately 22 922 km. Their separation occurred 3 hours and 55 minutes after lift-off. Galileo is a flagship component of the EU Space Programme. Owned by the European Union, it is under the management of the European Commission. It delivers best-in-class performance for real-time positioning accuracy worldwide, down to the meter range. It also offers innovative capabilities for professional users, such as authentication of signals and high-accuracy services, along with additional dedicated governmental services. Read more