Ariane 6 Rocket Set for Third Launch with Metop-SGA1 Satellite
Europe’s heavy-lift rocket, the Ariane 6, is poised for its third launch tonight, August 12, 2025. The rocket will take off from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, at 8:37 p.m. EDT (9:37 p.m. local time in Kourou; 00:37 GMT on August 13). Enthusiasts can watch the launch live via Arianespace, the French company managing the Ariane 6 missions on behalf of the European Space Agency.
This launch marks a significant moment for the Ariane 6 program, which debuted in July 2024 with a test flight. Its second flight occurred in March 2025, successfully delivering a French spy satellite into orbit. Tonight’s mission will deploy the Metop-SGA1, an 8,900-pound (4,040-kilogram) weather satellite designed to enhance climate observation.
Mission Details and Satellite Capabilities
The Metop-SGA1 satellite, developed by Airbus Defence and Space, is the first of six planned satellites in the Metop Second Generation constellation. It is scheduled to enter a polar orbit approximately 500 miles (800 kilometers) above Earth, where it will begin its operational phase after a brief checkout period.
Equipped with six onboard instruments, the Metop-SGA1 will collect critical data on weather and climate, including temperature, precipitation, cloud cover, winds, and sea ice conditions. This satellite is expected to significantly improve global weather observation capabilities. According to Arianespace, the satellite’s mission will last approximately 7.5 years.
The mission’s representatives emphasized the satellite’s potential, stating, “The satellite will take global observation of weather and climate from a polar orbit to a new level, providing high-resolution observations of temperature, precipitation, clouds, winds, sea ice, aerosols, pollution, soil moisture, volcanic dust and a multitude of other parameters.”
Arianespace’s Launch History
Tonight’s launch will be the 355th for Arianespace, which also operates the smaller Vega C rocket. The Metop-SGA1 will be the 15th spacecraft launched for EUMETSAT and the 21st meteorological satellite overall. This continued success illustrates Arianespace’s commitment to advancing satellite technology and enhancing global meteorological capabilities.
As the countdown to the launch continues, anticipation builds for what promises to be another milestone for the Ariane 6 program and European space exploration.
