Europe’s Space Agency (ESA) is set to launch the MetOp-SG-A1 weather satellite on an Ariane 6 rocket from Kourou, French Guiana, on August 13, 2025. The mission marks a significant upgrade to the agency’s weather forecasting capabilities.
The new satellite will host Copernicus Sentinel-5, a cutting-edge spectrometer that measures atmospheric gases and aerosols. This instrument delivers crucial data on air quality, climate change, and ozone levels, which can help prevent premature deaths from outdoor air pollution and skin cancer.
MetOp-SG-A1 is the first in a series of three satellites, each carrying six instruments that will enhance weather forecasting accuracy and resolution compared to previous missions. The satellite’s launch follows a long-standing cooperation between ESA and Eumetsat, with ESA designing and building the satellites and Eumetsat procuring the launch service.
The Ariane 6 rocket is Europe’s heavy launcher, designed for autonomous access to space. With its modular design, it can launch missions from low-Earth orbit into deep space.
Source: https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Meteorological_missions/MetOp_Second_Generation/Watch_MetOp-SG-A1_and_Sentinel-5_launch