IRIDE 1 launch time, date and countdown
TBD 2026 (date TBD)
No launch date has been set yet (listed as 2026). The countdown starts once a date is announced.
Launch details
- Target
- 2026 (date TBD)
- Status
- TBD To Be Determined
- Provider
- Avio S.p.A (Commercial)
- Rocket
- Vega-C
- Mission
- IRIDE 1
- Mission type
- Earth Science
- Orbit
- Sun-Synchronous Orbit
- Pad
- Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV)
- Location
- Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
- Country code
- GUF
Times can change. Central time is America/Chicago (CST/CDT). Source: Launch Library 2.
About this launch
IRIDE 1 is a launch of the Vega-C rocket operated by Avio S.p.A. No launch date has been set yet. Launch Library 2 currently lists it as no earlier than 2026, so the date and time shown on this page are placeholders until a real date is announced. The launch site is Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV), Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana. The target orbit is Sun-Synchronous Orbit. Mission type: Earth Science. Launch Library 2 lists the current status as “To Be Determined”.
Mission description
First dedicated launch for the European Space Agency's IRIDE Earth observation constellation.
How to watch
When Launch Library 2 lists an official YouTube webcast, T-ZERO embeds it here (click play to load the YouTube player). We do not host video ourselves; the stream stays on YouTube. Launch times often move, so reload this page for the latest schedule. External links below if the player fails.
No per-launch YouTube stream is listed yet. Try the provider’s channel, which often carries the webcast when it starts:
- Avio on YouTube channel page — may not be this launch
What to expect from IRIDE 1
This mission, IRIDE 1, uses a Vega-C operated by Avio S.p.A and lifts off from Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV), Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana.
Earth Science missions carry satellites that observe the land, oceans or atmosphere.
Target orbit: Sun-Synchronous Orbit. A Sun-synchronous orbit is a near-polar orbit that passes over any given place at about the same local solar time each day, which suits Earth-imaging satellites.
Rocket and provider in our data
In our data the Vega-C accounts for 2 launches: none completed yet, and 2 upcoming. Across all rockets, Avio S.p.A appears on 2 of the 140 launches in our data (1%), using 1 rocket configuration. Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV) is listed for 1 other launch in our data. T-ZERO keeps roughly the last two months of launches plus everything scheduled ahead, so these figures describe recent activity and are not an all-time record.
Timing
The target listed is no earlier than 2026, and the day and time are still to be determined. NET means “no earlier than”; this page shows a countdown once a real date is published. Its status is “TBD”: no launch date has been determined yet.
Watching
Kourou, French Guiana has public viewing areas. Access rules, safety notes and spots are in our Kourou, French Guiana viewing guide. Launch Library 2 lists 1 official webcast link for this launch; it opens on the provider’s own channel.
Where to watch this launch in person
Public viewing: Yes Kourou, French Guiana. The Guiana Space Centre runs its own free, no-booking viewing site (Carapa) for Ariane 6 and Vega-C launches, a second site (Ibis) by reservation, and several public beaches and viewpoints give a free view without a screen.
Crowd estimate for this launch: Low No adjustments. An estimate from launch type and time, not a measurement.
Nearest viewing spots we have checked:
- Carapa observation site (CSG)
- Ibis observation site (CSG, reservation)
- Pim Poum beach and Cocoteraie beach, Kourou (about 10.9 mi (17.5 km) to ELA-4 (Ariane 6))
Access rules, all viewing spots, closure links and tips for Kourou, French Guiana
Frequently asked questions about IRIDE 1
What time does IRIDE 1 launch?
No launch date has been set yet; Launch Library 2 lists it as no earlier than 2026.
Which launch site is used for IRIDE 1?
Launch Library 2 lists Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV), Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana. That is part of Kourou, French Guiana; T-ZERO has a viewing guide for it at /where-to-watch/kourou/.
Which rocket launches IRIDE 1?
Vega-C from Avio S.p.A. In T-ZERO’s data the Vega-C has 2 launches: 0 completed and 2 upcoming.
Is there a live stream of IRIDE 1?
Launch Library 2 lists 1 official webcast link for this launch, which opens on the provider’s own channel. When a YouTube link is listed, this page can embed the official player; otherwise use the external webcast links. T-ZERO does not host the video file itself.
Which orbit is IRIDE 1 headed to?
Launch Library 2 lists the target orbit as Sun-Synchronous Orbit.
Reminders
Subscribe (.ics) to all upcoming launches, or add webcal://t-0.space/calendar.ics in your calendar app and set a 1-hour alert there. Also this provider’s calendar (webcal://t-0.space/providers/avio-s-p-a/calendar.ics).
Email me 1 hour before
Optional email ~1 hour before launches with a firm countdown time (not TBD). Double opt-in; unsubscribe anytime. Privacy.
Enjoying the countdown? Buy us a coffee to help keep T-ZERO free.
Notify this device
Optional banner on this phone or computer about an hour before a firm countdown. We store a browser push endpoint, not your email. On iPhone, add T-ZERO to the Home Screen first.