Ariane 6 launch with MTG-I2 – highlights

The Meteosat Third Generation-Imager2 (MTG-I2) satellite lifted off on an Ariane 6 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on 27 August 2026 at 22:11 CEST (17:10 local time). Part of the MTG constellation for Eumetsat, with two satellites already in orbit, MTG-I2 will provide imaging for weather forecasting in unprecedented detail, especially for nowcasting severe weather events.

The satellite carries two instruments: a Lightning Imager and a Flexible Combined Imager. The Lightning Imager continuously monitors lightning from geostationary orbit at about 36 000 km above the equator, scanning more than 80% of Earth’s surface visible from that vantage point — a new capability for European meteorological satellites. The Flexible Combined Imager captures fast-evolving weather systems for timely warnings and air traffic safety, scanning its full view of Earth in 10 minutes and Europe and northern Africa every 2.5 minutes.

When the MTG constellation is fully operational, it is expected to produce at least 50 times more data than the previous Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) satellites.

This was the ninth Ariane 6 launch, using two P120C-based solid-propellant rocket motors to send MTG-I2 to geostationary transfer orbit — the rocket’s first GTO mission and its farthest flight to date. ESA manages the Ariane 6 development programme, with Arianespace as launch service provider for flight VA270.