Ariane 62 to Launch MTG-I2 on August 27, 2026

What is the MTG-I2 mission?

MTG-I2 is the second imaging satellite in Europe's Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) programme, and it will launch on an Ariane 62 rocket on August 27, 2026, at 20:10 UTC from Ariane Launch Area 4 at the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana. The Ariane 62 is the two-booster variant of Europe's flagship Ariane 6 heavy-lift rocket, operated by Arianespace on behalf of ESA and EUMETSAT.

The mission is currently listed as Go for launch. MTG-I2 (Meteosat Third Generation Imager 2) will operate in geostationary orbit, delivering high-frequency imaging of Europe and Africa to improve weather forecasting and nowcasting for hazardous storms.

When is the launch?

Liftoff is scheduled for 20:10 UTC on August 27, 2026. Geostationary transfer missions from Kourou typically launch in evening windows to place the payload on an efficient trajectory toward the equatorial geostationary belt at roughly 35,786 km altitude.

What is the payload?

MTG-I2 is one of the two imaging satellites in the MTG constellation, which spans six satellites in total — four imagers (MTG-I) and two sounders (MTG-S). Each MTG-I carries the Flexible Combined Imager and a Lightning Imager, the latter capable of detecting lightning flashes across the full disc of Europe and Africa. MTG-I2 continues the coverage established by MTG-I1, the first of the series.

According to EUMETSAT, the MTG programme is designed to operate through the 2040s, replacing the long-serving second-generation Meteosat fleet with sharper resolution and faster refresh rates that support earlier warning of severe weather.

Why Ariane 62?

The Ariane 62 configuration uses two P120C solid rocket boosters — the same motors shared with Vega-C — alongside a hydrogen-fuelled Vulcain 2.1 core stage and a re-ignitable Vinci upper stage. This variant is optimised for medium-lift missions such as geostationary weather satellites and government payloads, while the four-booster Ariane 64 handles heavier commercial dual launches.

How to watch live

Arianespace typically streams its launches live beginning around 20 minutes before liftoff. Coverage of the MTG-I2 mission is expected to be carried on Arianespace and ESA channels. You can follow the countdown, liftoff and the vehicle's ascent trajectory in real time on Cosmik's rocket launch schedule and track the deployed satellite afterward on the live 3D solar-system and satellite map.

• Launch window opens: 20:10 UTC, August 27, 2026
• Where: Guiana Space Centre, Kourou, French Guiana
• Destination orbit: geostationary transfer, targeting ~35,786 km

Where is the launch site?

The Guiana Space Centre sits near Kourou at about 5 degrees north of the equator, a location that gives launchers an efficient boost toward geostationary orbit thanks to Earth's rotational speed. Ariane Launch Area 4 (ELA-4) is the dedicated pad built for the Ariane 6 family. Explore more missions from the site and provider on Cosmik's launch provider hubs and stay current with the latest launch news.

Background on the operator

Arianespace has launched the Ariane family since 1979 and manages commercial and institutional missions from French Guiana. The MTG programme is a joint effort between ESA, which developed the satellites, and EUMETSAT, which operates them once in orbit.

Launch data sourced from The Space Devs Launch Library. Background on the vehicle and payload draws on public information from Ariane 6, Arianespace and the Guiana Space Centre.

Follow MTG-I2 live on Cosmik

Track the countdown to the Ariane 62 MTG-I2 launch and watch the satellite reach geostationary orbit on Cosmik's live 3D map. Enable free launch alerts so you never miss liftoff, and follow the upcoming launch schedule for the next mission.