First MetOp Second Generation satellite to launch in August

#Launch, #EUMETSAT

Published on 28 January 2025

ESA, Eumetsat, the European Commission and Arianespace have announced an agreement to advance the launch of the first MetOp Second Generation weather satellite, which also carries the Copernicus Sentinel-5 mission, to August 2025 aboard an Ariane 6 rocket.

This announcement, made today during the 17th Space Conference, brings the launch of the MetOp Second Generation satellite, MetOp-SG-A1, forward from later this year to August.

This new satellite will be launched on Ariane 6’s second commercial flight, VA264.

Developed by ESA and European industry for the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, Eumetsat, this new generation of polar-orbiting weather satellites substantially improves on the first series of MetOp satellites. 

MetOp Second Generation

The mission is also different in that it is designed as three successive pairs of A-type and B-type satellites, each type carrying a different, but complementary, suite of different instruments.

Working as a pair in polar orbit, they will deliver a wealth of global meteorological information for weather forecasts and climate prediction for more than 20 years.

Phil Evans, Director-General at Eumetsat, noted, “Providing new and better observational inputs for numerical weather prediction from polar orbit, the MetOp-SG mission will further improve weather forecasts up to 10 days ahead in Europe and worldwide, benefiting citizens and the economy. We look forward to having the first, MetOp-SG-A1, in orbit very soon.”

Sentinel-5 in all its glory

The A-type satellites also carry the Copernicus Sentinel-5 instrument for the European Commission. It will measure the distribution of atmospheric trace gases such as ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, formaldehyde, glyoxal, carbon monoxide, and methane, as well as aerosols.

The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service and the Copernicus Climate Change Service will use Sentinel-5 data for their information services that support environmental agencies in monitoring climate and air quality, and help authorities in related decision-making.

ESA’s Director of Space Transportation, Toni Tolker-Nielsen, said, “This launch is an early indication of what Ariane 6 can do. Built with versatility in mind, Europe's new Ariane 6 rocket is set to launch all kinds of missions into space for Europe.”

Ariane 6 the day of launch

ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programmes Simonetta Cheli, added, “Developed by ESA, MetOp-SG-A1 and Sentinel-5 are equipped with state-of-the-art technology to deliver crucial data for weather forecasting and air-quality monitoring, respectively.

“Both bring significant benefits to society and the economy.

“With our European partners, we are very happy that the Ariane 6 launcher will carry, what is effectively two missions into space, enabling them to begin their operational life in Earth's orbit.”

Source:

European Space Agency. (2025, January 28). First MetOp Second Generation satellite to launch in August. ESA Observing the Earth.