Source: France 24 [French state media]
“The Ariane 6 rocket on Wednesday blasted off carrying Europe’s next generation satellite for warning against extreme weather events. As many European countries simmer in a deadly heatwave, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) said its MetOp-SGA1 satellite will give ‘earlier warnings to help protect lives and property from extreme weather.’ … The rocket carrying the four-tonne satellite took off from France’s Kourou space base in French Guyana. MetOp-SGA1 was to be put into an 800 kilometre (500 mile) high orbit. It will be Europe’s first contribution to a US-led programme, the Joint Polar System, putting up satellites orbiting between the north and south poles.” (08/13/25)