Watch live: MTG-I2 set for liftoff
Europe’s Meteosat Third Generation Imager satellite MTG-I2 is scheduled to launch on 27 August aboard an Ariane 6 rocket, completing the first MTG constellation for advanced weather forecasting.
The Meteosat Third Generation Imager satellite MTG-I2 is scheduled for launch on flight VA270 aboard an Ariane 6 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on 27 August. The launch window opens at 22:10 CEST, with live coverage available on ESA WebTV and YouTube starting at 21:42 CEST. This mission marks the ninth flight of Ariane 6 and the rocket’s farthest trajectory to date, targeting a geostationary transfer orbit.
MTG-I2 will complete the first family of MTG satellites, enhancing weather forecasting capabilities over Europe and northern Africa. The satellite carries two instruments: the Lightning Imager, which continuously monitors lightning activity, and the Flexible Combined Imager, which scans Earth’s surface every 10 minutes and Europe and North Africa every 2.5 minutes. These instruments will provide new data products for European weather services, particularly for nowcasting severe weather events.
The Flexible Combined Imager’s rapid scanning capability enables timely weather warnings by capturing fast-evolving weather systems. Positioned 36,000 km above the equator in a geostationary orbit, the satellite will deliver images with unprecedented detail for meteorological analysis. This mission is part of Europe’s effort to improve autonomous access to space and strengthen its weather monitoring infrastructure.
ESA manages the Ariane 6 development program, while Arianespace serves as the launch service provider for flight VA270. The launch window extends for 2.5 hours, with the first attempt scheduled for 22:10 CEST (17:10 local time). Live coverage will be available on ESA WebTV and YouTube for audiences across Europe and beyond.