Eumetsat moves weather satellite from Ariane 6 to Falcon 9

European weather satellite operator Eumetsat has shifted the upcoming launch of a weather satellite from an Ariane 6 to a Falcon 9, a move that surprised and frustrated European space officials. In a statement late June 28, Eumetsat said the Meteosat Third Generation-Sounder 1 (MTG-S1) geostationary weather satellite will now launch on a Falcon 9 in 2025. The spacecraft was planned to launch as soon as early 2025 on an Ariane 6. “This decision was driven by exceptional circumstances,” Phil Evans, director-general of Eumetsat, said in a statement, but did not elaborate on those circumstances. “It does not compromise our standard policy of supporting European partners, and we look forward to a successful SpaceX launch for this masterpiece of European technology.” More

(Source: SpaceNews - Jun 30)