Arianespace launches the second commercial Ariane 6 mission on Aug. 12. Photo: Arianespace

Arianespace launched the second commercial Ariane 6 mission on Tuesday evening, launching EUMETSAT‘s Metop-SGA1 satellite. The Ariane 6 rocket took off from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana at 9:37 p.m. local time (8:37 p.m. EDT). 

This was the second commercial mission for the Ariane 6 rocket. The first commercial mission was in March of this year with France’s CSO-3 satellite. 

The Metop-SGA1 satellite was deployed to Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO) at an altitude of around 800 km. It is the first of the next generation of European polar-orbiting weather satellites. Arianespace confirmed post-launch that EUMETSAT successfully acquired signals from the satellite.

Airbus Defence and Space built Metop-SGA1, which hosts a total of six atmospheric sounding and imaging instrument missions that will provide optical, infrared, and microwave observations essential data for weather forecasting and climate monitoring. It also carries the new Sentinel-5 atmospheric monitoring mission.

“This success pinpoints our dedication to ensuring Europe’s autonomous and reliable access to space while also supporting an ambitious environmental mission that will provide cutting-edge data for weather and climate monitoring. Ariane 6’s second commercial launch marks a significant milestone in our journey,” Arianespace CEO David Cavaillolès said in a release.