The Meteosat Second Generation (MSG-2) satellite will be placed into orbit Dec. 21 for the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (Eumetsat), Arianespace said Nov. 18.

The Ariane GS5 launcher also will carry the Insat-4A telecommunications spacecraft for the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

MSG-2 (to be renamed Meteosat-9 once it becomes operational) will replace Meteosat-8 and provide European weather forecasters and researchers advanced data and images. The information also can be used for applications such as hydrology, agriculture and environmental studies. Meteosat-9 is designed to operate for seven years.

Tata Sky Ltd., a direct-to-to home joint venture, has signed a lease agreement with ISRO to use all 12 Ku-band transponders aboard Insat-4A to broadcast 150 digital channels across India.