Watch live: First Celeste launch

Key Points:

• On 25 March, the first two satellites of ESA's Celeste LEO-PNT mission will launch aboard Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket from New Zealand, with live coverage starting at 9:53 CET and liftoff scheduled for 10:14 CET.
• Celeste is Europe’s pioneering initiative for satellite navigation in low Earth orbit, aiming to test next-generation technologies and new frequency bands to complement the existing Galileo system in medium Earth orbit.
• The mission will enhance the resilience and performance of Europe’s satellite navigation by adding a complementary layer closer to Earth, enabling new service capabilities directly from LEO.
• The Celeste demonstration phase involves a constellation of 11 satellites developed by two consortia led by GMV/OHB and Thales Alenia Space, with participation from over 50 entities across 14 countries.
• Supported by ESA’s Council at Ministerial Levels in 2022 and 2025, Celeste contributes to the European Resilience from Space initiative, focusing on security, resilience, and strategic space capabilities for Member States.