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Europe\u2019s first\u00a0MetOp Second Generation, MetOp-SG-A1, weather satellite \u2013 which hosts the\u00a0Copernicus Sentinel-5\u00a0mission \u2013\u00a0 has launched aboard an Ariane 6 rocket from the European spaceport in French Guiana. The rocket lifted off on 13 August at 02:37 CEST (12 August 21:37 Kourou time).<\/p>\n
MetOp-SG-A1 is the first in a series of three successive pairs of satellites. The mission as a whole not only ensures the continued delivery of global observations from polar orbit for weather forecasting and climate analysis for more than 20 years, but also offers enhanced accuracy and resolution compared to the original MetOp mission \u2013 along with new measurement capabilities to expand its scientific reach.<\/p>\n
This new weather satellite also carries the Copernicus Sentinel-5 mission to deliver daily global data on air pollutants and atmospheric trace gases as well as aerosols and ultraviolet radiation.<\/p>\n
Ariane 6\u00a0is Europe\u2019s heavy launcher and a key element of ESA\u2019s efforts to ensure autonomous access to space for Europe\u2019s citizens. Ariane 6 has three stages: two or four boosters, and a main and upper stage. For this flight, VA264, the rocket was used in its two-booster configuration.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n