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Arianespace’s Ariane 6 Successfully Launches Metop-SGA1 Weather Satellite from Kourou, French Guiana.

Science and Technology | Dated: 15 Aug 2025

In August 2025, Arianespace successfully conducted the second commercial mission of its newly developed Ariane 6 rocket, launching the Metop-SGA1 weather satellite from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. This mission marked another significant step in European space capabilities, following the rocket’s first mission with France’s CSO-3 satellite.

🎯 Key Highlights:

  • - The Ariane 6 rocket is the successor to the retired Ariane 5 and is operated by French launch service provider Arianespace on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA). It is designed to cater to a broad range of satellite launches, providing flexibility for institutional and commercial payloads.
  • - The mission launched the Metop-SGA1 satellite, a next-generation climate and weather monitoring satellite developed by the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT). The satellite was successfully placed into a Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO) at an altitude of around 800 km.
  • - Metop-SGA1 will enhance weather forecasting and climate monitoring by providing high-resolution observations of temperature, precipitation, cloud formations, winds, sea ice, aerosols, and atmospheric pollution from a polar orbit. This advanced capability will assist meteorologists in tracking severe weather and long-term climate changes.

💡 Other Important Facts:

  • (i) Airbus Defence and Space built the satellite, equipping it with a suite of six atmospheric sounding and imaging instrument missions capable of collecting optical, infrared, and microwave observations. These data sets will be critical for operational meteorology and climate science applications across Europe and beyond.
  • (ii) The Metop-SGA1 mission forms part of the European Commission’s Copernicus programme and will work alongside the Sentinel-5 satellite to monitor air quality and greenhouse gas concentrations. Together, these satellites aim to strengthen Europe’s leadership in environmental monitoring from space.
  • (iii) Arianespace, founded in 1980, provides launch services for satellites of all classes and operates with the capability to transport any payload at any time. The company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is David Cavilhaes. The successful Metop-SGA1 launch reinforces Arianespace’s role as a leading player in global space transportation services.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

Which company has recently successfully launched the Metop-SGA1 weather satellite using the Ariane 6 rocket?

Correct Answer: Arianespace

🚀 Quick Recap:

About Arianespace

  • Founder: Frédéric d'Allest
  • Headquarters: Évry-Courcouronnes, France