Yesterday, the Ariane 5 launcher carrying the MSG-4 satellite was rolled out to the launch pad at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
Arianespace flight VA224 carrying MSG-4 on the launch pad on launch day. (ESA/M. Shafiq)
The launcher began its gentle journey from the encapsulation facility at 11:40 local time and arrived at the launch pad around 90 minutes later. Here, it will remain until the launch window opens tonight at 21:42 GMT (23:42 CEST). The launch window is 37 minutes.
Arianespace flight VA224 carrying MSG-4 on the launch pad on launch day. (ESA/M. Shafiq)
The launch can be followed by live webstream.
The Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) satellites provide full-disc images over Europe and Africa every 15 minutes and ‘rapid scan’ imagery over Europe every five minutes. MSG-4 is the last in this series of satellites. It ensures the continuity of meteorological data from geostationary orbit until the first Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) satellites enter service, expected to be launched in 2019 and 2021.
Arianespace flight VA224 carrying MSG-4 on the launch pad on launch day. (ESA/M. Shafiq)
The Meteosat family of missions is operated by Eumetsat – the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites – and ESA is responsible for their design, development and in-orbit delivery.
From the MSG-4 team in Kourou
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