Promise Ledger

ESA: public spaceflight commitments

European Space Agency. These are the dated public commitments by ESA and its people that we could source to a primary, with what happened.

5 entries: 2 met; 3 revised.

Plain counts, not a grade or a ranking. A short record is not a complete one. Checked against sources on Sep 26, 2026; scoring rules on the methodology page.

This first release is a selection, and a short record is not a complete record. Each programme milestone enters the ledger at its earliest dated public commitment we can find in a primary source, for governments and companies alike. Later dated commitments for the same milestone are shown on that one entry as a revision chain, oldest first, rather than as separate entries.

Entries

Met

Met late

Missed

Revised

Pending

What the statuses mean

Met:: happened on or before the deadline.
Revised:: the date or quantity was moved before it came due.

Entries, soonest deadline first

StatusClaim typeOrganisation

Vega-C first flight in mid-2019
Revised · worded as a target
First flight · ESA
“Vega-C is expected to debut in mid-2019”
Said Oct 13, 2017. Source: ESA: Rocket motor for Ariane 6 and Vega-C is cast for testing (Oct 13, 2017, last paragraph)
Context: ESA article on casting the first P120C development motor.
Deadline
“mid-2019”, read as Sep 30, 2019 (half precision)Worded as a target ("targeting", "plan", "expect", "no earlier than")
Counts as met when
Vega-C lifts off on its first flight on or before 30 September 2019.
Later dated commitments for the same milestone
1. Jul 16, 2018: “proves its flight-worthiness for use on Vega-C next year” (new date as stated: next year, read as Dec 31, 2019). RevisedSource: ESA: Hot firing proves solid rocket motor for Ariane 6 and Vega-C (Jul 16, 2018, paragraph 1)
2. Jun 4, 2019: “ESA is working with industry towards the maiden flight of Europe’s new Vega-C launch vehicle in 2020” (new date as stated: in 2020, read as Dec 31, 2020). RevisedSource: ESA: All engines GO for Vega-C maiden flight (Jun 4, 2019, paragraph 1)
3. Oct 29, 2020: “The maiden flight for Vega-C is planned to take place in June 2021, and that for Ariane 6 in the second quarter of 2022.” (new date as stated: June 2021, read as Jun 30, 2021). Met lateSource: ESA: ESA lays out roadmap to Vega-C and Ariane 6 flights (Oct 29, 2020, paragraph 1)
4. Jul 21, 2021: “which is planned to have its first flight in 2022.” (new date as stated: in 2022, read as Dec 31, 2022). MetSource: ESA: ESA advances Vega rocket evolution beyond 2025 (Jul 21, 2021, paragraph 2)
The counts use the original commitment. The latest date in the chain stands as: met.
Outcome: Vega-C flight VV21 lifted off from Kourou at 13:13 UTC on 2022-07-13. The June 2021 date in the chain passed before ESA’s next dated statement (2021-07-21). (Jul 13, 2022, on or before the latest deadline)
Outcome source: ESA: Vega-C successfully completes inaugural flight (Jul 13, 2022)
Checked against the source on Sep 26, 2026. Report a correction or send a response to this entry
Second ExoMars mission (rover and surface platform) launch in the July 2020 window
Revised · worded as a commitment
Launch · ESA (Joint ESA and Roscosmos decision)
“they jointly decided to move the launch to the next available Mars launch window in July 2020”
Said May 2, 2016. Source: ESA: Second ExoMars mission moves to next launch opportunity in 2020 (May 2, 2016, paragraph 5)
Context: 'They' are ESA Director General Johann-Dietrich Woerner and Roscosmos Director General Igor Komarov; the mission had been planned for 2018.
Deadline
“the next available Mars launch window in July 2020”, read as Jul 31, 2020 (month precision)Worded as a commitment ("will")
Counts as met when
The ExoMars rover mission lifts off in the July 2020 Mars window.
Later dated commitments for the same milestone
1. Mar 12, 2020: “The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Roscosmos Space Corporation have decided to postpone the launch of the second ExoMars mission to study the Red Planet to 2022.” (new date as stated: 2022, read as Dec 31, 2022). MissedSource: ESA: ExoMars to take off for the Red Planet in 2022 (Mar 12, 2020)
2. Jan 18, 2022: “The ESA-Roscosmos ExoMars 2022 mission will launch on a Proton-M rocket with a Breeze-M upper stage from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, in the 20 September – 1 October 2022 launch window.” (new date as stated: in the 20 September - 1 October 2022 launch window, read as Oct 1, 2022). WithdrawnSource: ESA: Steady driving towards ExoMars launch (Jan 18, 2022, closing paragraph)
The counts use the original commitment. The latest date in the chain stands as: withdrawn.
Outcome: On 17 March 2022 ESA's Council acknowledged "the present impossibility of carrying out the ongoing cooperation with Roscosmos on the ExoMars rover mission with a launch in 2022" and mandated steps to suspend it; on 28 March 2022 ESA said the 2022 launch window was no longer possible. The rover had not launched as of 2026-09-26.
Outcome source: ESA: ExoMars suspended (Agency N° 9-2022) (Mar 17, 2022)
Checked against the source on Sep 26, 2026. Report a correction or send a response to this entry
Ariane 6 maiden flight in 2020
Revised · worded as a target
First flight · ESA
“Ariane 6’s maiden flight is planned for 2020.”
Said Oct 13, 2017. Source: ESA: Rocket motor for Ariane 6 and Vega-C is cast for testing (Oct 13, 2017, last paragraph)
Context: ESA article on casting the first P120C development motor; earliest dated ESA page with an Ariane 6 first-flight date that we fetched (older ESA pages were not reachable).
Deadline
“planned for 2020”, read as Dec 31, 2020 (year precision)Worded as a target ("targeting", "plan", "expect", "no earlier than")
Counts as met when
Ariane 6 lifts off on its first flight on or before 31 December 2020.
Later dated commitments for the same milestone
1. Jun 14, 2018: “Ariane 6’s maiden flight is planned for mid-2020.” (new date as stated: mid-2020, read as Sep 30, 2020). RevisedSource: ESA: ESA Council decides on the completion of Ariane 6 and endorses start of transition from Ariane 5 to Ariane 6 (Jun 14, 2018, paragraph 3)
2. Jun 6, 2019: “Europe’s Ariane 6 launch vehicle is set to debut with a commercial mission in 2020” (new date as stated: in 2020, read as Dec 31, 2020). RevisedSource: ESA: Ariane 6 development on track (Jun 6, 2019, paragraph 1)
3. Oct 29, 2020: “The maiden flight for Vega-C is planned to take place in June 2021, and that for Ariane 6 in the second quarter of 2022.” (new date as stated: in the second quarter of 2022, read as Jun 30, 2022). RevisedSource: ESA: ESA lays out roadmap to Vega-C and Ariane 6 flights (Oct 29, 2020, paragraph 1)
4. Nov 5, 2021: “ESA offers an opportunity for payloads and experiments to ride on board the first flight of Ariane 6 planned in 2022.” (new date as stated: planned in 2022, read as Dec 31, 2022). RevisedSource: ESA: Last call: fly your payload on first Ariane 6 launch (Nov 5, 2021, paragraph 1)
5. Oct 19, 2022: “Ariane 6, the new heavy-lift launch system being developed by the European Space Agency, will make its inaugural flight as soon as the fourth quarter of 2023.” (new date as stated: as soon as the fourth quarter of 2023, read as Dec 31, 2023). RevisedSource: ESA: Ariane 6 first flight planned for fourth quarter of 2023 (Oct 19, 2022, paragraph 1)
6. Aug 9, 2023: “This test, to be carried out using the test model of the rocket installed on its launch pad, will give engineering teams all the results needed to define a launch period for the Ariane 6 inaugural flight in 2024.” (new date as stated: in 2024, read as Dec 31, 2024). MetSource: ESA: Ariane 6 joint update report, 9 August 2023 (Aug 9, 2023, 'Next milestones' list, 26 September 2023 item)
The counts use the original commitment. The latest date in the chain stands as: met.
Outcome: Ariane 6 lifted off on its first flight from Kourou on 9 July 2024 and deployed its satellites; the upper stage Auxiliary Propulsion Unit stopped after its second ignition, so the third Vinci burn and the deorbit did not take place. (Jul 9, 2024, on or before the latest deadline)
Outcome source: Arianespace: Ariane 6: post-launch update (Jul 31, 2024)
Checked against the source on Sep 26, 2026. Report a correction or send a response to this entry
Ariane 6 first launch between mid June and end of July 2024
Met · worded as a target
First flight · ESA
“ESA, CNES and ArianeGroup are targeting the first launch of Ariane 6 between mid June and end of July 2024.”
Said Nov 30, 2023. Source: ESA: Ariane 6 joint update report, 30 November 2023 (Nov 30, 2023, section 'First flight period')
Context: Ariane 6 joint update report of the Launcher Task Force (ESA, CNES, ArianeGroup, Arianespace). Restated as 'between 15 June and 31 July 2024' in the 22 February and 26 April 2024 reports.
Deadline
“between mid June and end of July 2024”, read as Jul 31, 2024 (window precision)Worded as a target ("targeting", "plan", "expect", "no earlier than")
Counts as met when
Ariane 6 lifts off on its first flight on or before 31 July 2024.
Outcome: Ariane 6 lifted off on its inaugural flight (VA262) from Kourou at 16:00 local time on 9 July 2024 and released its satellites in orbit. (Jul 9, 2024, on or before the deadline)
Outcome source: ESA: Europe's new Ariane 6 rocket powers into space (Jul 9, 2024)
Checked against the source on Sep 26, 2026. Report a correction or send a response to this entry
Vega-C return to flight by the end of 2024
Met · worded as a target
Launch · ESA
“The motor features an improved engine nozzle design, required to prepare for a Vega-C return-to-flight by the end of 2024.”
Said May 28, 2024. Source: ESA: Successful engine test boosts Vega-C towards return-to-flight (May 28, 2024, paragraph 1)
Context: The Zefiro-40 second-stage motor was redesigned after the Vega-C VV22 failure in December 2022.
Deadline
“by the end of 2024”, read as Dec 31, 2024 (year precision)Worded as a target ("targeting", "plan", "expect", "no earlier than")
Counts as met when
A Vega-C lifts off on its return-to-flight mission on or before 31 December 2024.
Outcome: Vega-C flight VV25 lifted off from Kourou at 22:20 CET on 5 December 2024 and placed Sentinel-1C in orbit. (Dec 5, 2024, on or before the deadline)
Outcome source: ESA: Double win for Europe: Sentinel-1C and Vega-C take to the skies (Dec 6, 2024)
Checked against the source on Sep 26, 2026. Report a correction or send a response to this entry

Corrections, responses and submissions

Something wrong? Report a correction with the entry and a source. Every entry also has its own link.
An organisation named here can send its public response to an entry through the same link; a dated, sourced response is shown on the entry.
Know a dated public commitment we have not listed? Submit it with the exact words and a primary source (the speaker's own post, video with a timestamp, release, filing or transcript).
The same rules and the same standard of evidence apply to everyone. Confirmed changes are logged on the corrections page with the date.

Open data: download the whole ledger (CSV, CC BY 4.0). Cite as “SpaceNexus Promise Ledger” with a link. How entries are scored: methodology. No sponsor, advertiser or partner can add, remove, reorder, annotate or preview an entry, and these pages carry no advertising.

The whole Promise Ledger, with every organisation and person, and the topic trackers.

ESA: public spaceflight commitments

European Space Agency. These are the dated public commitments by ESA and its people that we could source to a primary, with what happened.

5 entries: 2 met; 3 revised.

Plain counts, not a grade or a ranking. A short record is not a complete one. Checked against sources on Sep 26, 2026; scoring rules on the methodology page.

Entries

Met

Met late

Missed

Revised

Pending

What the statuses mean

Met:: happened on or before the deadline.
Revised:: the date or quantity was moved before it came due.

Entries, soonest deadline first

StatusClaim typeOrganisation

Vega-C first flight in mid-2019
Revised · worded as a target
First flight · ESA
“Vega-C is expected to debut in mid-2019”
Said Oct 13, 2017. Source: ESA: Rocket motor for Ariane 6 and Vega-C is cast for testing (Oct 13, 2017, last paragraph)
Context: ESA article on casting the first P120C development motor.
Deadline
“mid-2019”, read as Sep 30, 2019 (half precision)Worded as a target ("targeting", "plan", "expect", "no earlier than")
Counts as met when
Vega-C lifts off on its first flight on or before 30 September 2019.
Later dated commitments for the same milestone
1. Jul 16, 2018: “proves its flight-worthiness for use on Vega-C next year” (new date as stated: next year, read as Dec 31, 2019). RevisedSource: ESA: Hot firing proves solid rocket motor for Ariane 6 and Vega-C (Jul 16, 2018, paragraph 1)
2. Jun 4, 2019: “ESA is working with industry towards the maiden flight of Europe’s new Vega-C launch vehicle in 2020” (new date as stated: in 2020, read as Dec 31, 2020). RevisedSource: ESA: All engines GO for Vega-C maiden flight (Jun 4, 2019, paragraph 1)
3. Oct 29, 2020: “The maiden flight for Vega-C is planned to take place in June 2021, and that for Ariane 6 in the second quarter of 2022.” (new date as stated: June 2021, read as Jun 30, 2021). Met lateSource: ESA: ESA lays out roadmap to Vega-C and Ariane 6 flights (Oct 29, 2020, paragraph 1)
4. Jul 21, 2021: “which is planned to have its first flight in 2022.” (new date as stated: in 2022, read as Dec 31, 2022). MetSource: ESA: ESA advances Vega rocket evolution beyond 2025 (Jul 21, 2021, paragraph 2)
The counts use the original commitment. The latest date in the chain stands as: met.
Outcome: Vega-C flight VV21 lifted off from Kourou at 13:13 UTC on 2022-07-13. The June 2021 date in the chain passed before ESA’s next dated statement (2021-07-21). (Jul 13, 2022, on or before the latest deadline)
Outcome source: ESA: Vega-C successfully completes inaugural flight (Jul 13, 2022)
Checked against the source on Sep 26, 2026. Report a correction or send a response to this entry
Second ExoMars mission (rover and surface platform) launch in the July 2020 window
Revised · worded as a commitment
Launch · ESA (Joint ESA and Roscosmos decision)
“they jointly decided to move the launch to the next available Mars launch window in July 2020”
Said May 2, 2016. Source: ESA: Second ExoMars mission moves to next launch opportunity in 2020 (May 2, 2016, paragraph 5)
Context: 'They' are ESA Director General Johann-Dietrich Woerner and Roscosmos Director General Igor Komarov; the mission had been planned for 2018.
Deadline
“the next available Mars launch window in July 2020”, read as Jul 31, 2020 (month precision)Worded as a commitment ("will")
Counts as met when
The ExoMars rover mission lifts off in the July 2020 Mars window.
Later dated commitments for the same milestone
1. Mar 12, 2020: “The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Roscosmos Space Corporation have decided to postpone the launch of the second ExoMars mission to study the Red Planet to 2022.” (new date as stated: 2022, read as Dec 31, 2022). MissedSource: ESA: ExoMars to take off for the Red Planet in 2022 (Mar 12, 2020)
2. Jan 18, 2022: “The ESA-Roscosmos ExoMars 2022 mission will launch on a Proton-M rocket with a Breeze-M upper stage from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, in the 20 September – 1 October 2022 launch window.” (new date as stated: in the 20 September - 1 October 2022 launch window, read as Oct 1, 2022). WithdrawnSource: ESA: Steady driving towards ExoMars launch (Jan 18, 2022, closing paragraph)
The counts use the original commitment. The latest date in the chain stands as: withdrawn.
Outcome: On 17 March 2022 ESA's Council acknowledged "the present impossibility of carrying out the ongoing cooperation with Roscosmos on the ExoMars rover mission with a launch in 2022" and mandated steps to suspend it; on 28 March 2022 ESA said the 2022 launch window was no longer possible. The rover had not launched as of 2026-09-26.
Outcome source: ESA: ExoMars suspended (Agency N° 9-2022) (Mar 17, 2022)
Checked against the source on Sep 26, 2026. Report a correction or send a response to this entry
Ariane 6 maiden flight in 2020
Revised · worded as a target
First flight · ESA
“Ariane 6’s maiden flight is planned for 2020.”
Said Oct 13, 2017. Source: ESA: Rocket motor for Ariane 6 and Vega-C is cast for testing (Oct 13, 2017, last paragraph)
Context: ESA article on casting the first P120C development motor; earliest dated ESA page with an Ariane 6 first-flight date that we fetched (older ESA pages were not reachable).
Deadline
“planned for 2020”, read as Dec 31, 2020 (year precision)Worded as a target ("targeting", "plan", "expect", "no earlier than")
Counts as met when
Ariane 6 lifts off on its first flight on or before 31 December 2020.
Later dated commitments for the same milestone
1. Jun 14, 2018: “Ariane 6’s maiden flight is planned for mid-2020.” (new date as stated: mid-2020, read as Sep 30, 2020). RevisedSource: ESA: ESA Council decides on the completion of Ariane 6 and endorses start of transition from Ariane 5 to Ariane 6 (Jun 14, 2018, paragraph 3)
2. Jun 6, 2019: “Europe’s Ariane 6 launch vehicle is set to debut with a commercial mission in 2020” (new date as stated: in 2020, read as Dec 31, 2020). RevisedSource: ESA: Ariane 6 development on track (Jun 6, 2019, paragraph 1)
3. Oct 29, 2020: “The maiden flight for Vega-C is planned to take place in June 2021, and that for Ariane 6 in the second quarter of 2022.” (new date as stated: in the second quarter of 2022, read as Jun 30, 2022). RevisedSource: ESA: ESA lays out roadmap to Vega-C and Ariane 6 flights (Oct 29, 2020, paragraph 1)
4. Nov 5, 2021: “ESA offers an opportunity for payloads and experiments to ride on board the first flight of Ariane 6 planned in 2022.” (new date as stated: planned in 2022, read as Dec 31, 2022). RevisedSource: ESA: Last call: fly your payload on first Ariane 6 launch (Nov 5, 2021, paragraph 1)
5. Oct 19, 2022: “Ariane 6, the new heavy-lift launch system being developed by the European Space Agency, will make its inaugural flight as soon as the fourth quarter of 2023.” (new date as stated: as soon as the fourth quarter of 2023, read as Dec 31, 2023). RevisedSource: ESA: Ariane 6 first flight planned for fourth quarter of 2023 (Oct 19, 2022, paragraph 1)
6. Aug 9, 2023: “This test, to be carried out using the test model of the rocket installed on its launch pad, will give engineering teams all the results needed to define a launch period for the Ariane 6 inaugural flight in 2024.” (new date as stated: in 2024, read as Dec 31, 2024). MetSource: ESA: Ariane 6 joint update report, 9 August 2023 (Aug 9, 2023, 'Next milestones' list, 26 September 2023 item)
The counts use the original commitment. The latest date in the chain stands as: met.
Outcome: Ariane 6 lifted off on its first flight from Kourou on 9 July 2024 and deployed its satellites; the upper stage Auxiliary Propulsion Unit stopped after its second ignition, so the third Vinci burn and the deorbit did not take place. (Jul 9, 2024, on or before the latest deadline)
Outcome source: Arianespace: Ariane 6: post-launch update (Jul 31, 2024)
Checked against the source on Sep 26, 2026. Report a correction or send a response to this entry
Ariane 6 first launch between mid June and end of July 2024
Met · worded as a target
First flight · ESA
“ESA, CNES and ArianeGroup are targeting the first launch of Ariane 6 between mid June and end of July 2024.”
Said Nov 30, 2023. Source: ESA: Ariane 6 joint update report, 30 November 2023 (Nov 30, 2023, section 'First flight period')
Context: Ariane 6 joint update report of the Launcher Task Force (ESA, CNES, ArianeGroup, Arianespace). Restated as 'between 15 June and 31 July 2024' in the 22 February and 26 April 2024 reports.
Deadline
“between mid June and end of July 2024”, read as Jul 31, 2024 (window precision)Worded as a target ("targeting", "plan", "expect", "no earlier than")
Counts as met when
Ariane 6 lifts off on its first flight on or before 31 July 2024.
Outcome: Ariane 6 lifted off on its inaugural flight (VA262) from Kourou at 16:00 local time on 9 July 2024 and released its satellites in orbit. (Jul 9, 2024, on or before the deadline)
Outcome source: ESA: Europe's new Ariane 6 rocket powers into space (Jul 9, 2024)
Checked against the source on Sep 26, 2026. Report a correction or send a response to this entry
Vega-C return to flight by the end of 2024
Met · worded as a target
Launch · ESA
“The motor features an improved engine nozzle design, required to prepare for a Vega-C return-to-flight by the end of 2024.”
Said May 28, 2024. Source: ESA: Successful engine test boosts Vega-C towards return-to-flight (May 28, 2024, paragraph 1)
Context: The Zefiro-40 second-stage motor was redesigned after the Vega-C VV22 failure in December 2022.
Deadline
“by the end of 2024”, read as Dec 31, 2024 (year precision)Worded as a target ("targeting", "plan", "expect", "no earlier than")
Counts as met when
A Vega-C lifts off on its return-to-flight mission on or before 31 December 2024.
Outcome: Vega-C flight VV25 lifted off from Kourou at 22:20 CET on 5 December 2024 and placed Sentinel-1C in orbit. (Dec 5, 2024, on or before the deadline)
Outcome source: ESA: Double win for Europe: Sentinel-1C and Vega-C take to the skies (Dec 6, 2024)
Checked against the source on Sep 26, 2026. Report a correction or send a response to this entry

Corrections, responses and submissions

Something wrong? Report a correction with the entry and a source. Every entry also has its own link.
An organisation named here can send its public response to an entry through the same link; a dated, sourced response is shown on the entry.
Know a dated public commitment we have not listed? Submit it with the exact words and a primary source (the speaker's own post, video with a timestamp, release, filing or transcript).
The same rules and the same standard of evidence apply to everyone. Confirmed changes are logged on the corrections page with the date.

The whole Promise Ledger, with every organisation and person, and the topic trackers.

ESA: public spaceflight commitments

Entries, soonest deadline first

Vega-C first flight in mid-2019

Second ExoMars mission (rover and surface platform) launch in the July 2020 window

Ariane 6 maiden flight in 2020

Ariane 6 first launch between mid June and end of July 2024

Vega-C return to flight by the end of 2024

Corrections, responses and submissions

ESA: public spaceflight commitments

Entries, soonest deadline first

Vega-C first flight in mid-2019

Second ExoMars mission (rover and surface platform) launch in the July 2020 window

Ariane 6 maiden flight in 2020

Ariane 6 first launch between mid June and end of July 2024

Vega-C return to flight by the end of 2024

Corrections, responses and submissions

Newsletter