On the night of July 12 to 13, an Ariane 6 rocket was launched from the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, carrying into orbit the first satellite of the MetOp Second Generation series — MetOp-SG-A1. Also on board was the Copernicus Sentinel-5 instrument, which will provide essential data on air pollution, ozone levels, and greenhouse gases. 

The MetOp-SG mission stems from a long-standing collaboration between ESA and EUMETSAT. For at least 20 years, six satellites operating in pairs as type A and B will collect precise data on temperature, precipitation, clouds, winds, and air quality. Sentinel-5 will supply daily global information about atmospheric composition, supporting the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service and the Climate Change Service. 

These new satellites are crucial tools in the fight against the climate crisis and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events such as storms, heatwaves, and wildfires. Importantly, MetOp-SG satellites are the first ESA satellites equipped with an active deorbit system—after completing their missions, they will safely burn up in the atmosphere.