Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Simonetta Cheli, ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programmes, welcomes the second successful launch for IRIDE’s Eaglet II constellation. Following launch on 30 March 2026 from the Vandenburg Space Force Base in California, eight new satellites join the Eaglet II constellation in orbit, bringing the total number of satellites to 16.
Part of Italy’s IRIDE programme, Eaglet II data will be used to provide core services for Italian public authorities, from monitoring Italy’s coastal areas, to land use and cover, and providing maps during emergency situations.
Credits: European Space Agency (ESA)
Access the video on the ESA video library: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2026/03/Simonetta_Cheli_welcomes_the_launch_of_new_IRIDE_satellites
Our main YouTube channel: youtube.com/@EuropeanSpaceAgency
We are Europe's gateway to space. Our mission is to shape the development of Europe's space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. Check out https://www.esa.int/ to get up to speed on everything space related.
Copyright information about our videos is available here: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Terms_and_Conditions
Simonetta Cheli, ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programmes, welcomes the second successful launch for IRIDE’s Eaglet II constellation. Following launch on 30 March 2026 from the Vandenburg Space Force Base in California, eight new satellites join the Eaglet II constellation in orbit, bringing the total number of satellites to 16.
Part of Italy’s IRIDE programme, Eaglet II data will be used to provide core services for Italian public authorities, from monitoring Italy’s coastal areas, to land use and cover, and providing maps during emergency situations.
Credits: European Space Agency (ESA)
Access the video on the ESA video library: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2026/03/Simonetta_Cheli_welcomes_the_launch_of_new_IRIDE_satellites
Our main YouTube channel: youtube.com/@EuropeanSpaceAgency
We are Europe's gateway to space. Our mission is to shape the development of Europe's space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. Check out https://www.esa.int/ to get up to speed on everything space related.
Copyright information about our videos is available here: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Terms_and_Conditions
![Sophie sending her warmest thoughts from orbit 🫶 [French with English subtitles]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YE7WFQFHpZ4/mqdefault.jpg "Sophie sending her warmest thoughts from orbit 🫶 [French with English subtitles]
This video was published on social media by ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot with the following caption:
[EN] Day 175 orbit 2712 — Sending my warmest thoughts from orbit 🫶
[FR] Jour 175, orbite 2712 — Je pense très fort a vous depuis l’espace 🫶
Credits: European Space Agency (ESA)
Footage: ESA/NASA
Our main YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@EuropeanSpaceAgency
We are Europes gateway to space. Our mission is to shape the development of Europes space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. Check out https://www.esa.int/ to get up to speed on everything space related.
Copyright information about our videos is available here: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Terms_and_Conditions")
