Europe’s heavy-lift rocket, the Ariane 6, is scheduled for its third launch tonight, August 12, 2025. The lift-off will take place at 8:37 p.m. EDT from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. This event marks another significant milestone for the European space program and the international meteorological community.
Viewers can watch the launch live through Arianespace, the French company responsible for operating the Ariane 6 on behalf of the European Space Agency. The live feed will also be available on platforms such as Space.com, pending availability from Arianespace.
The Ariane 6, which succeeded the retired Ariane 5, made its debut in July 2024 with a test flight. Its second flight occurred in March 2025, successfully deploying a French spy satellite into Earth orbit during its inaugural commercial mission.
Payload and Mission Objectives
Tonight’s launch will carry the Metop-SGA1, an 8,900-pound (approximately 4,040 kilograms) weather satellite designed to enhance meteorological data collection. Operated by the international consortium EUMETSAT (European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites), Metop-SGA1 will be deployed into a polar orbit approximately 500 miles (about 800 kilometers) above the Earth, 64 minutes post-launch.
The satellite is equipped with six advanced instruments that will enable it to gather comprehensive data on various weather and climate parameters. Following its operational commissioning, Metop-SGA1 is expected to provide high-resolution observations on factors such as temperature, precipitation, clouds, winds, sea ice, aerosols, pollution, soil moisture, and volcanic dust over its anticipated operational lifespan of 7.5 years.
Arianespace representatives noted that the satellite’s capabilities will significantly enhance global weather observation, stating, “The satellite will take global observation of weather and climate from a polar orbit to a new level.”
Launch Significance and Historical Context
Tonight’s liftoff will be the 355th mission for Arianespace, a company that also operates the smaller Vega C rocket. The launch of Metop-SGA1 will mark the 15th satellite Arianespace has launched for EUMETSAT and the 21st meteorological satellite overall.
Metop-SGA1 is the first of six planned satellites in the Metop Second Generation constellation, which aims to significantly advance meteorological monitoring capabilities. As Europe continues to invest in space technology and satellite systems, the success of the Ariane 6 missions will play a critical role in providing essential data for climate monitoring and weather prediction.
As anticipation builds for this evening’s launch, the success of the Ariane 6 and its payload could pave the way for further advancements in both European space exploration and environmental monitoring initiatives.