The European Space Agency (ESA) has successfully launched an Ariane 6 rocket from French Guiana, placing the four-ton MetOp-SG-A1 satellite into orbit around the Earth.

The satellite will monitor weather, climate, and air pollution, marking an important step toward greater European independence in space and meteorology.

More accurate measurements

The MetOp-SG-A1 is equipped with six advanced instruments, including the infrared atmospheric sounder IASI-NG, which provides measurements twice as accurate as its predecessor. This sensor measures temperature profiles, humidity, ocean and land temperatures, and 16 climate variables, such as greenhouse gases and desert dust.

It also features a microwave radiometer, a multispectral imaging radiometer, and the Sentinel-5 spectrometer for Copernicus, the Earth observation component of the European Union’s space program.

The latter instrument is designed to provide crucial data on air pollutants, ozone, climate-related gases such as methane, ammonia, and nitrogen dioxide (NOx), UV radiation, and vegetation fluorescence. This data will help meteorologists improve storm and heavy rainfall forecasts, enabling farmers to better protect crops, grid operators to manage energy supply more effectively, and pilots and sailors to navigate more safely.

A more independent EU

The satellite is in a sun-synchronous orbit about 800 km above Earth, allowing it to scan the entire planet in 24 hours with high resolution. Built by Airbus Defense and Space for EUMETSAT, Europe’s weather satellites agency, MetOP-SG-A1 is expected to remain operational until 2040.

ESA and EUMETSAT emphasize that MetOp-SG-A1 is not just a technological leap but also a strategic move. Europe seeks to reduce its reliance on foreign weather and climate data. Earlier this month, U.S. public broadcaster NPR reported that President Trump plans to end two NASA missions that measure CO₂—data that Europe also uses extensively. By launching its own satellites, the EU can secure vital climate and air quality measurements. Next year, ESA will deploy its own CO₂-monitoring satellites.

What’s Next

MetOp-SG-A1 is the first of three satellite pairs to be launched over the next two decades. Together, they will capture high-resolution data on the atmosphere, oceans, ice caps, and land surfaces 14 times a day. They will work alongside Europe’s Meteosat series, which added its second third-generation satellite, MTG-S1, in July.

“The launch of MetOp-SG-A1 is an important step forward in providing national weather services in our member states with better tools to save lives, protect property, and build resilience to the climate crisis,” said Phil Evans, Director General of EUMETSAT.

This is only the second time in European history that two satellites have been launched in a single year. The previous occasion was in 2012.