Europe's Ariane 6 rocket successfully launched the Metop-SGA1 weather satellite into polar orbit on August 12, 2025. This was Ariane 6's third launch, marking the 355th for Arianespace. The 8,900-pound satellite, built by Airbus, is the first of six in the Metop Second Generation constellation and will provide high-resolution weather and climate data for 7.5 years. The launch occurred from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

Prepared by Jonathan Pierce and reviewed by editorial team.