ARIANESPACE
Vega-C | Biomass
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Apr 29, 2025 at 09:15 UTC
▸ Flight profile›
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3 streams
PADAriane Launch Area 1 (ELV)
SITEGuiana Space Centre, French Guiana →ORBITSun-Synchronous Orbit
TYPEEarth Science
MISSION OVERVIEW
Biomass is an European Space Agency mission designed to measure the density of carbon stored in the world’s forests. The spacecraft, built by Airbus Defence and Space, features the first civilian P-band synthetic aperture radar as well as a 12m-diameter deployable reflector from L3Harris made of over 900 km of gold-coated molybdenum 25µm wire.
With a minimum operational lifetime of 5 years in its 666km 6am/6pm sun-synchronous orbit, the global coverage achieved every 9 months allows to precisely monitor the evolution of forests over time.
LAUNCH DETAILS
VEHICLE
Vega-CAGENCY
ArianespaceMISSION
Biomass
MISSION TYPE
Earth Science
TARGET ORBIT
Sun-Synchronous Orbit
LAUNCH PAD
Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV)LAUNCH SITE
Guiana Space Centre, French GuianaCOUNTRY
FRA
LAUNCH TIME VERIFICATION
CONFIRMED
LAUNCH LIBRARY 2 PRIMARY
API ID: ccbd07da-d3c7-4b22-a5ee-cb190f6e06b0
Reported date: Apr 29, 2025 at 09:15 UTC
Last synced: 5 seconds ago
This launch date and time are confirmed by the launch provider. Countdown is active.
LAUNCH MAP
PAD WEATHER
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VEHICLE — Vega-C →
MANUFACTURER
Avio S.p.A
FLIGHTS
6
SUCCESSES
5
SUCCESS RATE
83.3%
Vega-C is a single-body rocket nearly 35 m high with that weighs 210 tonnes on the launch pad. As with Vega, its main elements are three solid-propellant stages, an upper stage powered by a reignitable liquid-propellant engine and a payload fairing. Vega-C's P120C first stage replaces Vega’s smaller P80 to provide a significant increase in thrust at liftoff. It is also used as boosters (2 or 4) for the Ariane 6 rocket.
LAUNCH VIDEOS
ARTICLES & COVERAGE
MORE INFO
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
When is the Vega-C | Biomass launch?
The Vega-C | Biomass is scheduled for Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at 9:15 AM UTC. This is the NET (No Earlier Than) time and may be subject to change. Current status: SUCCESS.
What rocket is being used for Biomass?
The Vega-C | Biomass mission uses the Vega-C rocket, manufactured by Avio S.p.A. The Vega-C has flown 6 times with a 83.3% success rate.
Where is the Vega-C | Biomass launching from?
The launch takes place from Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV) at Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana.
What orbit is Biomass going to?
The Biomass mission is targeting Sun-Synchronous Orbit.
Who is launching Biomass?
The Vega-C | Biomass is operated by Arianespace.
Can I watch the Vega-C | Biomass launch live?
Yes. Visit the launch detail page on Space Launch Live for embedded YouTube webcasts, replay videos, and links to live coverage from SpaceX, NASA, NASASpaceflight, and other channels.
LAUNCH TIMELINE
Mar 25, 2026 00:37 UTC
Launch added to tracker
Imported from Launch Library 2 API
Mar 25, 2026 00:37 UTC
Launch date set: Apr 29, 2025 at 09:15 UTC
NET (No Earlier Than) confirmed by Arianespace
Mar 25, 2026 00:37 UTC
Launch completed successfully
Updated via Launch Library 2
Jan 26, 2026 13:27 UTC
ESAu2019s Biomass goes live with data now open to allThe European Space Agencyu2019s innovative Biomass satellite is now fully commissioned, opening free access to a powerful new stream of data that promise a step…
ESA
Nov 14, 2025 10:57 UTC
Brazil gears up to harness ESA's Biomass dataBerlin, Germany (SPX) Nov 14, 2025 As the COP30 climate conference gets underway in Brazil, the world's attention is once again drawn to the plight…
SpaceDaily
Nov 13, 2025 09:01 UTC
Brazil gears up to harness ESAu2019s Biomass dataAs the COP30 climate conference gets underway in Brazil, the worldu2019s attention is once again drawn to the plight of the Amazon u2013 the planetu2019s…
ESA
Jun 23, 2025 12:05 UTC
R&D Successes Onboard BiomassFor any space mission to launch, thousands of hours must have been spent iterating new technologies to make the spacecraft fly. The Biomass satellite, which…
ESA
Jun 23, 2025 10:20 UTC
Biomass satellite returns striking first images of forests and moreToday, at the Living Planet Symposium, ESA revealed the first stunning images from its groundbreaking Biomass satellite mission u2013 marking a major leap forward in…
ESA
May 15, 2025 07:00 UTC
Biomass, an oversized football and the Australian outbackESAu2019s forest mission Biomass will be supported by a custom-built transponder antenna installed in New Norcia, Australia.
ESA
May 9, 2025 09:00 UTC
Biomass completes a relay race of a LEOPMission control at ESAu2019s European Space Operations Centre has completed the critical Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) for ESAu2019s Biomass, after nine days of…
ESA
May 2, 2025 13:20 UTC
ESA unveils longest-ever dataset on forest biomassAs the new Biomass satellite settles into life in orbit following its launch on 29 April, ESA has released its most extensive satellite-based maps of…
ESA
Apr 30, 2025 11:59 UTC
Vega launches Biomass satelliteA Vega C rocket successfully launched an Earth science satellite for the European Space Agency, a mission officials said was also a demonstration of European…
SpaceNews
Apr 30, 2025 10:59 UTC
Vega-C takes Biomass to the skyESAu2019s state-of-the-artu00a0Biomassu00a0satellite has launched aboard au00a0Vega-Cu00a0rocket from Europeu2019s Spaceport in French Guiana. The rocket lifted off on 29 April 2025 at 11:15 CEST (06:15 local…
ESA
Apr 29, 2025 21:51 UTC
Launch Roundup: Starlink missions fill launch manifest, Biomass and Alpha launchThis weeku2019s schedule includes up to six Starlink launches from Florida and California. Arianespace launchedu2026 The post Launch Roundup: Starlink missions fill launch manifest, Biomass…
NASASpaceflight
Apr 29, 2025 16:30 UTC
Biomass launch highlightsESAu2019s state-of-the-art Biomass satellite launched aboard a Vega-C rocket from Europeu2019s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. The rocket lifted off on 29 April 2025 at…
ESA
Apr 29, 2025 14:39 UTC
Successful Vega C Launch Delivers ESA Biomass Satellite to OrbitAn Avio-built Vega C rocket was launched from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana on 29 April, successfully delivering the European Space Agencyu2019s Biomass…
European Spaceflight
Apr 29, 2025 10:30 UTC
Biomass launched to count forest carbonESAu2019s groundbreaking Biomass satellite, designed to provide unprecedented insights into the worldu2019s forests and their crucial role in Earthu2019s carbon cycle, has been launched. The…
ESA
Apr 29, 2025 09:30 UTC
ESAu2019s Biomass mission launches on Vega-CESAu2019s state-of-the-art Biomass satellite has launched aboard a Vega-C rocket from Europeu2019s Spaceport in French Guiana. The rocket lifted off on 29 April 2025 at…
ESA
LIVE DATA SOURCES
Last data sync: 6 seconds ago
●Launch Library 26 seconds ago
Launch ID: ccbd07da-d3c7-4b22-a5ee-cb190f6e06b0
●Spaceflight News API4 minutes ago
15 articles matched
●Open-Meteo Weather2 days ago
Pad weather at 5.24, -52.78
Mission Profile
Biomass was a Vega-C mission operated by Arianespace that lifted off from Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV), Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana on April 29, 2025. The flight carried its payload on a earth science mission to Sun-Synchronous Orbit. The launch was a success.