We collected every public date that Europe’s rocket makers, agencies and governments gave for a rocket’s first flight to orbit, and checked what happened next. Each small chart follows one rocket. When the line jumps up, the date moved back.
Short answer, as of 9 October 2026: none of the 11 European rockets we track reached orbit by the first date its maker or agency gave. Three have reached orbit since: Vega C and Ariane 6, each about 3.5 years after the first date given, and Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum, 4.7 years after. Seven have not flown. Skyrora XL is 8.0 years behind its first date, MIURA 5 6.5 years and RFA One 5.0 years. Orbex went into administration on 18 February 2026, 5.0 years after the first date for its Prime rocket. All 103 dates and their sources are in the table below.
Dates as of 9 October 2026.
103
public launch dates for 11 European rockets
0
rockets reached orbit by the first date given
3.5 to 4.7
years late: Vega C, Ariane 6 and Spectrum, the three that reached orbit
7
still waiting for a first flight, and 1 stopped
How far each first flight moved
Years from the end of the first period promised to the first orbit, or to the latest date given for rockets that have not flown.
reached orbitnot flown: years moved so farstopped
Every date, rocket by rocket
How to read a chart
- One public date. Tap it for who gave it, when, and the source.
- Time passes and the date stands, so the line falls toward zero.
- A new, later date. The height of the jump is the delay.
- Below zero: the last date passed with no launch and no new date.
- First orbit. A grey ring is a first launch that failed.
- Today, for a rocket that has not flown: the date it has now is still ahead.
- The company stopped, or the last date passed with no new one.
All dates and sources
| Date given on | Given by | Launch date given | Years away | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vega C (Avio): It flew on 13 July 2022. | ||||
| 3 Dec 2014 | ESA Director General Dordain (CM14), via SpacePolicyOnline | Vega-C in 2018 by 31 Dec 2018 | 4.1 | SpacePolicyOnline 3 Dec 2014 |
| 12 Aug 2015 | ESA (development contract to ELV) | 2018 debut by 31 Dec 2018 | 3.4 | ESA press release 12 Aug 2015 (Ariane 6 and Vega C begin development) |
| 11 Mar 2019 | ESA (Critical Design Review) | first quarter of 2020 by 31 Mar 2020 | 1.1 | ESA 11 Mar 2019, Vega-C enters qualification phase |
| 29 Oct 2020 | ESA (roadmap to Vega-C and Ariane 6 flights) | June 2021 by 30 Jun 2021 | 0.7 | ESA 29 Oct 2020 |
| 19 Mar 2021 | Space Intel Report (P. de Selding) | early 2022 by 30 Jun 2022 | 1.3 | Space Intel Report 19 Mar 2021 |
| Ariane 6 (Arianespace): It flew on 9 July 2024. | ||||
| 12 Aug 2015 | ESA (development contracts) | 2020 by 31 Dec 2020 | 5.4 | ESA press release 12 Aug 2015 |
| 13 Aug 2016 | ASL CEO Charmeau | end 2020 by 31 Dec 2020 | 4.4 | Spaceflight Now 13 Aug 2016 |
| 8 Jan 2019 | Arianespace CEO Israel | July 2020 by 31 Jul 2020 | 1.6 | SpaceNews 8 Jan 2019 |
| 20 May 2020 | ESA/ArianeGroup (reported) | 2021 by 31 Dec 2021 | 1.6 | SpaceNews 20 May 2020 |
| 29 Oct 2020 | ESA (Neuenschwander) | Q2 2022 by 30 Jun 2022 | 1.7 | SpaceNews 29 Oct 2020 |
| 16 Dec 2021 | Arianespace CEO Israel (“no delay”) | H2 2022 by 31 Dec 2022 | 1.0 | Advanced Television 16 Dec 2021 |
| 13 Jun 2022 | ESA DG Aschbacher | 2023 by 31 Dec 2023 | 1.6 | SpaceNews 13 Jun 2022 |
| 19 Oct 2022 | ESA press briefing | Q4 2023 by 31 Dec 2023 | 1.2 | ESA 19 Oct 2022 |
| 9 Aug 2023 | ESA | 2024 by 31 Dec 2024 | 1.4 | ESA joint update report 9 Aug 2023 |
| 30 Nov 2023 | ESA/CNES/ArianeGroup | June-July 2024 by 31 Jul 2024 | 0.7 | ESA joint update report 30 Nov 2023 |
| Spectrum (Isar Aerospace): The first orbit came on 5 September 2026, at the second try. | ||||
| 10 Dec 2019 | Isar press release | late 2021 by 31 Dec 2021 | 2.1 | Isar press release 10 Dec 2019 (Series A) |
| 28 Jul 2021 | Isar press release | 2022 by 31 Dec 2022 | 1.4 | Isar press release 28 Jul 2021 (Series B ext.) |
| 13 Dec 2021 | Isar press release | end of 2022 by 31 Dec 2022 | 1.0 | Isar press release Dec 2021 |
| 8 Feb 2023 | Isar accounts 2021 | mid-2023 by 31 Jul 2023 | 0.5 | Isar annual accounts 2021 (management report) |
| 28 Mar 2023 | Isar press release | second half of 2023 by 31 Dec 2023 | 0.8 | Isar press release 28 Mar 2023 (Series C) |
| 21 Sep 2023 | Isar accounts 2022 | end of 2023 by 31 Dec 2023 | 0.3 | Isar annual accounts 2022 (management report) |
| 27 Nov 2024 | Isar accounts 2023 | end of 2024 by 31 Dec 2024 | 0.1 | Isar annual accounts 2023 (management report) |
| 17 Mar 2025 | Isar press release | “launch period beginning 20 March 2025” (subject to weather, safety and range infrastructure) by 31 Mar 2025 | 0.0 | Isar press release 17 Mar 2025 (NCAA permit received) |
| 21 Mar 2025 | Isar (via Space Insider) | first test flight “no earlier than Monday, March 24, 2025”, window 12:30-15:30 CET by 24 Mar 2025 | 0.0 | Space Insider (Alyssa Lafleur) 21 Mar 2025 |
| 25 Mar 2025 | Isar (via SatNews) | “second launch window … opens not earlier than Thursday, 27 March, from 12:30pm to 03:30pm” by 27 Mar 2025 | 0.0 | SatNews 25 Mar 2025 |
| 27 Mar 2025 | Isar (via Parabolic Arc and SatNews) | “first test flight of Spectrum is moved to Saturday, 29 March, due to ongoing weather restrictions” by 29 Mar 2025 | 0.0 | Parabolic Arc (Douglas Messier) 27 Mar 2025; SatNews 27 Mar 2025 (NET 29 Mar, 11:30 UTC) |
| 27 May 2025 | Isar CCO Stella Guillen (SmallSat Europe panel, via Zeitenwende) | “Isar aims to conduct a second Spectrum flight before the year’s end” (2025) by 31 Dec 2025 | 0.6 | Zeitenwende (Substack) 25 Jun 2025, reporting remarks at SmallSat Europe, Amsterdam, 27 May 2025 |
| 16 Jan 2026 | Isar press release | “targeted for not earlier than 21 January, with the launch window opening at 09:00 pm CET” by 21 Jan 2026 | 0.0 | Isar press release 16 Jan 2026 |
| 30 Jan 2026 | Isar press release | new launch window “will open no earlier than 19 March” by 19 Mar 2026 | 0.1 | Isar press release 30 Jan 2026 |
| 6 Mar 2026 | Isar accounts 2024 (group) | zweiter Testflug “für Mitte März 2026 geplant” (mid-March 2026); outlook: second launch “in den kommenden Wochen” by 20 Mar 2026 | 0.0 | Isar Aerospace SE Konzernabschluss/Konzernlagebericht 2024 (signed 6 Mar 2026, released for publication 9 Mar 2026) |
| 13 Mar 2026 | Isar press release | launch window “scheduled to open NET March 19” by 19 Mar 2026 | 0.0 | Isar press release 13 Mar 2026 (Merz and Støre visit the launch site) |
| 18 Mar 2026 | Isar news ticker | “targeting NET 23 March”, window opens 9pm CET (moved for unfavourable weather) by 23 Mar 2026 | 0.0 | Isar news ticker 18 Mar 2026 |
| 23 Mar 2026 | Isar news ticker | “moved to NET 25 March due to ongoing strong winds”, window opens 9pm CET by 25 Mar 2026 | 0.0 | Isar news ticker 23 Mar 2026 (repeated 24 and 25 Mar) |
| 8 Apr 2026 | Isar news ticker | “targeting NET 9 April”, window opens 10pm CEST by 9 Apr 2026 | 0.0 | Isar news ticker 8 Apr 2026 |
| 9 Jun 2026 | Isar press release | “launch window will open from June 15 to 21” by 21 Jun 2026 | 0.0 | Isar press release 9 Jun 2026 (EUR 270m Series D) |
| 5 Sep 2026 | Isar news ticker | “targeting NET 5 September”, window opens 10pm CEST by 5 Sep 2026 | 0.0 | Isar news ticker 5 Sep 2026 |
| Skyrora XL (Skyrora): It has not happened. Skyrora now says 2030. | ||||
| 24 Mar 2021 | gov.uk | XL test-launched in 2022 by 31 Dec 2022 | 1.8 | gov.uk ESA Boost! release 24 Mar 2021 |
| Dec 2023 | skyrora.com | orbital launch from UK soil at the end of next year by 31 Dec 2024 | 1.0 | skyrora.com Q4 2023 review |
| 17 Feb 2025 | PA/STV | 2026 the realistic timescale for XL by 31 Dec 2026 | 1.9 | PA/STV 17 Feb 2025 |
| 5 Aug 2025 | Aerospace | XL launch planned for 2027 by 31 Dec 2027 | 2.4 | Aerospace Global News 5 Aug 2025 |
| 1 Oct 2026 | Aerospace | first orbital launch in 2027 by 31 Dec 2027 | 1.2 | Aerospace Testing International 1 Oct 2026 (company press release) |
| 2 Oct 2026 | Payload | tentatively aiming for 2030 for orbital launch by 31 Dec 2030 | 4.2 | Payload 2 Oct 2026 (COO interview) |
| MIURA 5 (PLD Space): current target H1 2027 | ||||
| 2016 | SpaceNews / UPV via web check (press) | Arion 2: 2020 by 31 Dec 2020 | 4.5 | SpaceNews / UPV |
| Mar 2018 | Cuentas anuales FY2017 memoria [2017 L597-602] | FY2017 accounts: Arion 2 in 2021 by 31 Dec 2021 | 3.8 | PLD Space accounts FY2017 (notes) |
| Mar 2019 | Cuentas anuales FY2018 memoria [2018 L297-299] | FY2018 accounts: MIURA 5 in 2021 by 31 Dec 2021 | 2.8 | PLD Space accounts FY2018 (notes) |
| Sep 2020 | Cuentas anuales FY2019 memoria [2019 L341-344] | FY2019 accounts: MIURA 5 in 2025 by 31 Dec 2025 | 5.3 | PLD Space accounts FY2019 (notes) |
| Mar 2021 | Cuentas anuales FY2020 memoria [2020 L339-403] | FY2020 accounts: MIURA 5 in 2024 by 31 Dec 2024 | 3.8 | PLD Space accounts FY2020 (notes) |
| Dec 2021 | PLD release 27 Dec 2021 (Alicante Plaza) | Series B release: 2024 from French Guiana by 31 Dec 2024 | 3.0 | PLD release 27 Dec 2021 (Alicante Plaza) |
| Feb 2023 | SEGO Venture offer Feb 2023 (Sascha archive) | SEGO retail offer: 2024 by 31 Dec 2024 | 1.9 | SEGO Venture offer Feb 2023 |
| Apr 2023 | Depósito FY2022 memoria [2022 L5900] | FY2022 accounts: 2025 by 31 Dec 2025 | 2.7 | PLD Space accounts FY2022 (notes) |
| Oct 2023 | Reuters 20 Oct 2023 | Reuters: Q1 2026 by 31 Mar 2026 | 2.5 | Reuters 20 Oct 2023 |
| Jan 2024 | CDTI PERTE award 26 Jan 2024 (Xataka / European Spaceflight) | PERTE award: maiden 2025 by 31 Dec 2025 | 2.0 | CDTI PERTE award 26 Jan 2024 (Xataka / European Spaceflight) |
| Jul 2024 | ICO release 17 Jul 2024 | ICO loan release: end 2025 by 31 Dec 2025 | 1.5 | ICO release 17 Jul 2024 |
| Mar 2025 | Depósito FY2024 memoria [2024 L5902-5903] | FY2024 accounts: 2026 by 31 Dec 2026 | 1.8 | PLD Space accounts FY2024 (notes) |
| Mar 2026 | Depósito FY2025 memoria [2025 L2254-2256] | FY2025 accounts: two launches in 2026 by 31 Dec 2026 | 0.8 | PLD Space accounts FY2025 (notes) |
| Sep 2026 | PLD 10-11 Sep 2026 (Xataka / Neoteo) | Company: H1 2027 by 30 Jun 2027 | 0.8 | PLD 10-11 Sep 2026 (Xataka / Neoteo) |
| RFA One (Rocket Factory Augsburg): RFA One has not flown, and no date stands. | ||||
| 30 Aug 2019 | OHB | end 2021 by 31 Dec 2021 | 2.3 | dpa-AFX/onvista 30.08.2019 |
| 2 Nov 2020 | RFA | 2022 by 31 Dec 2022 | 2.2 | RFA press release 02.11.2020 (first Boost! contract) |
| 18 Nov 2021 | RFA | end 2022 from Andoya by 31 Dec 2022 | 1.1 | RFA press release 18.11.2021 |
| 25 Apr 2022 | DLR | end 2023 by 31 Dec 2023 | 1.7 | DLR press release 25.04.2022 |
| 11 Jan 2023 | RFA | end 2023 by 31 Dec 2023 | 1.0 | RFA press release 11.01.2023 (SaxaVord) |
| 7 Aug 2023 | RFA | Q2 2024 by 30 Jun 2024 | 0.9 | RFA press release 07.08.2023 (KKR) |
| 21 Mar 2024 | RFA | summer 2024 by 31 Aug 2024 | 0.4 | RFA blog 21.03.2024 |
| 24 Jul 2024 | RFA | late Sep / early Oct 2024 by 10 Oct 2024 | 0.2 | Shetland News 24.07.2024 |
| 8 Nov 2024 | RFA | 2025 by 31 Dec 2025 | 1.1 | Shetland News 08.11.2024 |
| 5 Aug 2025 | RFA | autumn 2025 by 30 Nov 2025 | 0.3 | Shetland News 05.08.2025 |
| 22 Nov 2025 | RFA | 2026 by 31 Dec 2026 | 1.1 | Shetland News 22.11.2025 |
| 23 Jan 2026 | RFA | Q3 2026 by 30 Sep 2026 | 0.7 | Shetland News 23.01.2026 |
| 6 Mar 2026 | RFA | summer 2026 by 31 Aug 2026 | 0.5 | RFA press release 06.03.2026 |
| 7 Jul 2026 | SaxaVord | window 10 Aug – 14 Sep 2026 by 14 Sep 2026 | 0.2 | Shetland News 07.07.2026 |
| 6 Aug 2026 | OHB | later in 2026 by 31 Dec 2026 | 0.4 | OHB H1 2026 call 06.08.2026 |
| SL1 (HyImpulse): SL1 has not flown. The current target is 2027. | ||||
| 27 Jul 2022 | HyImpulse via Astrodrom | 2024 by 31 Dec 2024 | 2.4 | Astrodrom 27 Jul 2022 |
| 15 Nov 2023 | SaxaVord press release | from late 2025 by 31 Dec 2025 | 2.1 | SaxaVord press release 15 Nov 2023 |
| 16 Oct 2025 | HyImpulse via European Spaceflight | 2027 by 31 Dec 2027 | 2.2 | European Spaceflight 16 Oct 2025 |
| Latitude launcher (Latitude): current target late 2027 (Etlaq, experimental) | ||||
| Dec 2020 | Latitude via European Spaceflight | 2024 by 31 Dec 2024 | 4.0 | European Spaceflight 4 Nov 2022 (‘since at least December 2020’) |
| Mar 2022 | SaxaVord MoU | 2024 by 31 Dec 2024 | 2.8 | European Spaceflight |
| Dec 2023 | Latitude via European Spaceflight | 2025 by 31 Dec 2025 | 2.0 | European Spaceflight 22 Jan 2024 |
| 1 Jul 2026 | Latitude press release | late 2027 (experimental, Etlaq) by 31 Dec 2027 | 1.5 | Latitude press release 1 Jul 2026 via European Spaceflight |
| Sirius 1 (Sirius Space Services): Sirius has not flown a rocket. Antoine Fourcade now gives the first flight within 12 to 18 months, the end of 2027 or early 2028. | ||||
| Sep 2022 | Sirius Space Services (IAC-22 abstract) | Sirius 1 first flight ‘planned for the first semester 2025’ by 30 Jun 2025 | 2.8 | IAF IAC-22 abstract C4.1.10 (Paris, Sep 2022) |
| 6 Oct 2022 | Sirius Space Services (France 2030 laureate text) | first launch from CSG ‘prévu en mars 2025’ by 31 Mar 2025 | 2.5 | France 2030 space press kit 6 Oct 2022, p.8 |
| 30 Dec 2023 | Sirius Space Services (via European Spaceflight) | Sirius 1 ‘maiden flight expected in 2025’ by 31 Dec 2025 | 2.0 | European Spaceflight 30 Dec 2023 |
| 30 Jul 2024 | A. Fourcade (Bpifrance Big média) | Sirius 1 inaugural flight ‘programmé pour 2027’ by 31 Dec 2027 | 3.4 | Bpifrance Big média 30 Jul 2024 |
| 14 May 2026 | A. Fourcade (France 3) | inaugural flight, bought by the French state, ‘au milieu de l’année 2027’ by 30 Sep 2027 | 1.4 | France 3 Centre-Val de Loire 14 May 2026 |
| 23 Jun 2026 | Sirius Space Services (via La 1ère) | ‘premier décollage envisagé début 2028’ (Kourou) by 30 Jun 2028 | 2.0 | La 1ère Guyane 23 Jun 2026 |
| 14 Jul 2026 | Sirius Space Services (via Cap’Infos) | ‘Premier tir prévu début 2028’ by 30 Jun 2028 | 2.0 | Cap’Infos 14 Jul 2026 |
| 9 Sep 2026 | A. Fourcade (AFP) | first flight ‘d’ici 12 à 18 mois’ (end 2027 or early 2028) by 9 Mar 2028 | 1.5 | AFP via Techniques de l’Ingénieur / Outremers360 9 Sep 2026 |
| Maia (MaiaSpace): Maia has not flown. MaiaSpace now says the second half of 2027. | ||||
| 21 Jun 2022 | MaiaSpace CEO | maiden launch 2026 by 31 Dec 2026 | 4.5 | MaiaSpace CEO |
| 16 Jun 2023 | MaiaSpace | first orbital flight before the end of 2025 by 31 Dec 2025 | 2.5 | MaiaSpace |
| 10 Jan 2024 | MaiaSpace (via European Spaceflight) | maiden launch 2025 by 31 Dec 2025 | 2.0 | MaiaSpace (via ESF) |
| 26 Sep 2024 | MaiaSpace (via European Spaceflight) | inaugural launch late 2025 by 31 Dec 2025 | 1.3 | MaiaSpace (via ESF) |
| 13 Feb 2025 | MaiaSpace | first flight in 2026 by 31 Dec 2026 | 1.9 | MaiaSpace |
| 13 Jun 2025 | MaiaSpace | first flight in the second half of 2026 by 31 Dec 2026 | 1.6 | MaiaSpace |
| 3 Dec 2025 | MaiaSpace (via AFP) | first launch end of 2026 by 31 Dec 2026 | 1.1 | MaiaSpace (via AFP) |
| 24 Feb 2026 | MaiaSpace | first launch by April 2027 by 30 Apr 2027 | 1.2 | MaiaSpace |
| 29 Jul 2026 | MaiaSpace (via European Spaceflight) | first flight orbital, second half of 2027 by 31 Dec 2027 | 1.4 | MaiaSpace (via ESF) |
| Prime (Orbex): Prime never flew. Orbex went into administration on 18 February 2026. | ||||
| Feb 2019 | Orbex (SSTL contract release) | 2021 by 31 Dec 2021 | 2.9 | Orbex release Feb 2019 |
| Aug 2019 | Orbex (In-Space Missions contract release) | 2022 by 31 Dec 2022 | 3.4 | Orbex release Aug 2019 |
| 24 Mar 2021 | UK government (ESA Boost! award) | 2023, from Space Hub Sutherland by 31 Dec 2023 | 2.8 | GOV.UK 24 Mar 2021 |
| 18 Oct 2022 | Orbex via European Spaceflight (Series C) | 2023, from Sutherland by 31 Dec 2023 | 1.2 | European Spaceflight 18 Oct 2022 |
| 4 Dec 2024 | SaxaVord / Orbex release (move to SaxaVord) | 2025 by 31 Dec 2025 | 1.1 | SaxaVord release 4 Dec 2024 |
| 29 Jan 2025 | UK government (GBP 20m) | late 2025, from SaxaVord by 31 Dec 2025 | 0.9 | GOV.UK 29 Jan 2025 |
| 26 Jun 2025 | Orbex spokesperson via Shetland News | 2026 by 31 Dec 2026 | 1.5 | Shetland News 26 Jun 2025 |
| 18 Feb 2026 | Company target at administration (per administrators) | late 2026 by 31 Dec 2026 | 0.9 | Joint administrators’ proposals (AM03), dated 10 Apr 2026, filed 24 Apr 2026, p.8 |
How we count
We read each date as the last day of the period given. “2024” means by 31 December 2024, and “late 2021” means by 31 December 2021. This is the most generous reading for each company. “Years away” is that day minus the day the date was given.
Only dates for the first flight to orbit count. We leave out dates for suborbital tests, test vehicles and the first commercial flight, and planning notes with no date. For MIURA 5 the list starts with Arion 2, the earlier name of the same orbital rocket.
Flight dates come from Jonathan McDowell’s launch log and the agencies’ own reports. Promised dates come from company press releases and annual accounts, ESA, CNES, DLR, the UK government, the Orbex administrators’ report and named press (European Spaceflight, Shetland News, SpaceNews, Reuters, Payload, AFP).
The 2026 ranking of European launch companies scores each firm on these delays. On this day picks out the promise that fell due on today’s date in an earlier year. For the money behind each rocket, see public money per orbit reached, and for size and payload, European rockets compared. Our reviews of Isar Aerospace, Rocket Factory Augsburg, PLD Space, MaiaSpace, Sirius Space Services, HyImpulse, Latitude, Skyrora and Orbex give the background to each date, as do our pages on Ariane 6 and Vega C.
