Launch is expected at 22:10 CEST (17:10 local time). The live coverage will begin at 21:42 CEST on ESA WebTV and on ESA’s YouTube channel. 

The window for launch will remain open for 2.5 hours.

MTG-I2 is the third satellite in the MTG constellation and will complete the mission's first family of satellites. Together the satellites will produce images for weather forecasting in Europe in unprecedented detail. This mission provides new data products and capabilities for European weather services, especially suited to nowcasting of severe weather events.

The MTG-Imager satellites carry two instruments, a Lightning Imager and a Flexible Combined Imager. The Lightning Imager offers completely new capabilities for European meteorological satellites by continuously monitoring for lightning. The Flexible Combined Imager, on the other hand, builds a picture of fast-evolving weather systems and can be used to issue timely weather warnings. It is able to scan the entire surface of Earth as viewed from its geostationary position (36 000 km above the equator) in just 10 minutes and can scan Europe and North Africa every 2.5 minutes.

This will be the ninth launch of Europe’s heavy-lift rocket Ariane 6. Ariane 6 will lift off with two P120C-based solid-propellant rocket motors, launching MTG-I2 to a geostationary transfer orbit. This will be the first mission to this destination for Ariane 6 and the farthest the rocket will have flown so far. ESA manages the Ariane 6 development programme, ensuring autonomous access to space for the benefit of European citizens. Arianespace is the launch service provider for flight VA270.

Watch the liftoff of MTG-I2 live on ESA WebTV (all times in CEST). Note that the launch window lasts for 2.5 hours, with the first launch attempt scheduled for 22:10 CEST (17:10 local time).