Powerful European Ariane 6 rocket soars for the 3rd time, propelling a weather satellite into orbit (video)
Ariane 6 Launches Metop-SGA1, Advancing Weather Forecasting and Climate Monitoring
Tonight, the Ariane 6 rocket successfully deployed the Metop-SGA1 weather satellite into a polar orbit 800 kilometers above Earth, marking a significant milestone in European space launch capability. Operated by the French company ArianeGroup on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA), this was the 355th launch for ArianeGroup and the second time the Ariane 6 rocket has been used for a commercial mission.
Metop-SGA1, an 8,900-pound (4,040-kilogram) satellite, is the first satellite in the Metop Second Generation constellation. It carries six advanced instruments that provide high-resolution optical, infrared, and microwave data to monitor parameters such as temperature, precipitation, clouds, winds, sea ice, aerosols, pollution, and more. Among its instruments is the Sentinel-5 atmospheric monitoring mission from the European Commission's Copernicus programme, which delivers detailed data on air quality and pollutants.
The payload of this mission was built by Airbus Defence and Space. Metop-SGA1's operational life is expected to last 7.5 years, during which it will gather a variety of weather and climate data. This data will be crucial for improving the precision of numerical weather prediction models and advancing climate science.
The satellite will be operated by the international group EUMETSAT (European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites). This is the 15th satellite that ArianeGroup has launched for EUMETSAT. Metop-SGA1's mission is vital for improving weather forecasts, monitoring atmospheric composition, and supporting a wide range of applications related to environmental and climate services.
ArianeGroup also currently operates a smaller rocket called the Vega C. The launch of Metop-SGA1 on Ariane 6 reflects the satellite's importance and the capabilities of the Ariane 6 rocket. This was the third time the Ariane 6 rocket has been launched ever, with the debut happening in July 2024. The launch occurred from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
This new generation of satellites will ensure operational coverage for over two decades with a nominal lifetime of 7.5 years per satellite in the series. The deployment of Metop-SGA1 marks a significant step forward in advancing weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and atmospheric composition observation.
[1] ArianeGroup. (n.d.). Metop-SGA. Retrieved from https://www.arianegroup.com/en/programmes/satellite-programmes/metop-sga
[2] European Space Agency. (n.d.). Metop Second Generation (Metop-SG). Retrieved from https://www.esa.int/Applications/Operational_Missions/Metop_Second_Generation
[3] EUMETSAT. (n.d.). Metop-SGA. Retrieved from https://www.eumetsat.int/website/home/About-EUMETSAT/Missions/Metop-Second-Generation.html
[4] Airbus Defence and Space. (n.d.). Metop-SG. Retrieved from https://www.airbus.com/defence-space/space/programmes/metop-sg
[5] Copernicus. (n.d.). Sentinel-5 Precursor. Retrieved from https://sentinel.esa.int/web/sentinel/missions/sentinel-5p/overview/
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