MTG-I2 encapsulated

The Meteosat Third Generation-Imager2 (MTG-I2) satellite, has been encapsulated inside the Ariane 6 nose cone, or fairing, at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. The launch is scheduled for 27 August 2026 at 22:10 CEST (17:10 local time).

The encapsulation took place with the two halves of the fairing already firmly fixed together, and the cone then lowered over the MTG-I2 satellite. This upper segment of the rocket, with MTG-I2 inside, was then hoisted on top of the rocket, which is already standing vertically on the launch pad inside the Mobile Gantry. All is now in place for launch. Before liftoff, the Mobile Gantry will be rolled away from the launch pad, leaving the Ariane 6 launcher and its important passenger ready for countdown.

MTG-I2 is part of the MTG constellation for Eumetsat and it will produce images for weather forecasting in Europe in unprecedented detail. This mission provides completely new data products and capabilities for European weather services, especially suited to nowcasting of severe weather events.