Europe’s first MetOp Second Generation, MetOp-SG-A1, weather satellite — which hosts Copernicus Sentinel-5 as part of its instrument package — is set for liftoff on an Ariane 6 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on 13 August 2025 at 02:37 CEST (12 August 21:37 Kourou time).
First of EUMETSAT’s second generation of Metop weather satellites. Metop-SG A1 is the first satellite in the Metop Second Generation (Metop-SG) series, a joint project by the European Space Agency (ESA) and EUMETSAT. It will be launched in August 2025, alongside the Copernicus Sentinel-5 instrument, on an Ariane 6 rocket. Metop-SG A1 is designed to provide continuity of global observations for weather forecasting and climate analysis, offering enhanced data compared to the first generation of Metop satellites
The forecast calls for a temperature of 77°F, broken clouds, 54% cloud cover and a wind speed of 2mph.
Ariane Launch Area 4 has witnessed the launch of 2 rockets, including 2 orbital launch attempts. While Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana, has been the site for 326 rocket launches.
The Guiana Space Center is a European spaceport to the northwest of Kourou in French Guiana, a region of France in South America. Kourou is located at a latitude of 5°. In operation since 1968, it is a suitable location for a spaceport because of its equatorial location and open sea to the east. The Ariane 62, manufactured by ArianeGroup established in 2015, undertook its inaugural launch on 07/09/2024, is non-reusable and is active.
Ariane 62 has 2 successful launches and 0 failed attempts, with a cumulative tally of 2 launches, currently with 11 pending launches in the pipeline.
The Ariane 6 family is currently under development by the European Space Agency, with two variations including the Ariane 62 with two solid boosters intended for government and scientific missions.