MetOp-SG-B1 Satellite Readies for Key Launch to enhance European Weather Forecasting

Preparations are ramping up for the anticipated launch of the MetOp Second Generation-B1 weather satellite, scheduled to enter orbit later this year. Extensive testing is currently being conducted to ensure that the satellite’s impressive 11-meter-long solar wing will deploy as intended.

The MetOp-SG mission involves two satellites that work together to enhance Europe’s capability for weather forecasting from a polar orbit. The first satellite, MetOp-SG-A1, was successfully launched in August 2025. Engineers are now focused on getting its counterpart, MetOp-SG-B1, ready for its autumn launch. Together, these satellites feature a combined array of 11 instruments designed to provide detailed measurements of atmospheric conditions, including temperature, precipitation, winds, and cloud cover.

As one of the most sophisticated weather monitoring systems ever created, the MetOp-SG mission consists of three sets of satellite pairs aimed at delivering global data critical for storm prediction, climate monitoring, and improving the precision of weather forecasts over the next two decades. The B-series satellites are equipped with five specialized instruments, including a scatterometer for measuring ocean wind vectors and soil moisture, a radio occultation sounder for profiling temperature and humidity, a microwave imager for precipitation assessment and monitoring sea-ice, an ice cloud imager for gauging cloud-ice water, and the advanced Argos-4 data collection system that compiles information from various platforms such as buoys and ships.

Since last year, MetOp-SG-B1 has been put through intensive environmental and functional evaluations at Airbus’s facility in Toulouse, France. A significant milestone in this testing phase was the successful deployment of its solar wing, which plays an important role by providing the necessary electrical power for the satellite’s operations after launch. This solar wing will automatically unfold once the satellite separates from its Ariane 6 rocket, paving the way for the satellite to commence its mission.

With the deployment tests behind them, engineers will next weigh the satellite and conduct further assessments to determine its center of gravity and inertia moments. These metrics are vital for the rocket’s performance during the ascent phase, similar to how flight crews assess weight and fuel before takeoff.

Once testing is finalized, MetOp-SG-B1 will undergo preparations for transport, including final rehearsals of launch procedures before it is stored in a cleanroom for approximately four months. The satellite is currently slated for launch from Kourou in October 2026, positioning it as a key component in advancing meteorological insights and forecasting capabilities for years to come.