Eumetsat strikes climate satellite tv for pc from Ariane 6 to Falcon 9

WASHINGTON — European climate satellite tv for pc operator Eumetsat has shifted the upcoming launch of a climate satellite tv for pc from an Ariane 6 to a Falcon 9, a transfer that stunned and annoyed European house officers.

In a press release late June 28, Eumetsat mentioned the Meteosat Third Era-Sounder 1 (MTG-S1) geostationary climate satellite tv for pc will now launch on a Falcon 9 in 2025. The spacecraft was deliberate to launch as quickly as early 2025 on an Ariane 6.

“This determination was pushed by distinctive circumstances,” Phil Evans, director-general of Eumetsat, mentioned in a press release, however didn’t elaborate on these circumstances. “It doesn’t compromise our commonplace coverage of supporting European companions, and we look ahead to a profitable SpaceX launch for this masterpiece of European expertise.”

The spacecraft is the second within the Meteosat Third Era line of geostationary orbit climate satellites, after the launch of MTG-I1 on one of many final Ariane 5 rockets in December 2022. MTG-S1 is the primary to hold a sounder instrument that may present vertical profiles of temperature and water vapor to enhance climate forecasting.

Eumetsat famous in its assertion that MTG-S1 will “convey a revolution for climate forecasting and local weather monitoring” and instructed it moved the launch to Falcon 9 to make sure it might launch on schedule.

“Its launch will be certain that nationwide climate providers can profit from new and extra correct information to guard lives, properties and infrastructures,” it acknowledged. “As such, the EUMETSAT member states determined to award a launch service contract to SpaceX for the launch of the Meteosat Third Era-Sounder 1 (MTG-S1) satellite tv for pc on a Falcon 9 rocket in 2025.”

The company didn’t reply to questions in regards to the change in launch submitted earlier than it issued the assertion. The launch change was first reported June 27 by the French newspaper Le Monde.

The change seems to have caught the management of European house organizations unexpectedly, as they publicly expressed their shock and disappointment in Eumetsat’s determination to not use Ariane 6 lower than two weeks earlier than that rocket’s scheduled debut.

“Clearly, at the moment is a really disappointing day for European house efforts,” acknowledged Philippe Baptiste, head of the French house company CNES, in a social media publish. He known as the choice “fairly a brutal change” given the timing.

“I’m impatiently ready to know what causes may have led Eumetsat to such a choice, at a time the place all main European house nations in addition to the European Fee are calling for launching European satellites on European launchers!” he wrote.

He known as on the European Fee to implement a type of “purchase European” regulation that may require European authorities missions to launch on European rockets. “This illustrates, as soon as once more, the ardent want for sturdy European coordination on house.”

Josef Aschbacher, director normal of the European Area Company, additionally known as Eumetsat’s determination “shocking” in a June 29 social media publish. “It’s obscure, particularly as Ariane 6 is properly on observe for its 9 July inaugural flight, with all continuing nominally.”

He famous that Eumetsat’s determination wouldn’t have an effect on the ramp-up of Ariane 6 launches, assuming the inaugural launch in July is successful. A second launch, which might be a business launch managed by Arianespace, is deliberate earlier than the tip of the yr.

Arianespace has an order e book of 30 Ariane 6 launches, mentioned Caroline Arnoux, head of Ariane 6 applications at Arianespace, at a June 25 ESA briefing. That features 18 launches of Undertaking Kuiper satellites for Amazon, together with different business and authorities clients.

She mentioned Arianespace envisioned six Ariane 6 launches in 2025, rising to eight in 2026 and 10 in 2027. The automobile’s most flight fee is projected to be 9 to 12 launches a yr.

Lucía Linares, head of house transportation technique and institutional launches at ESA, emphasised at that briefing the significance of presidency clients for the Ariane 6. “At first, we’ve got developed Ariane 6 — designed, developed and now coming to the inaugural launch — to be able to serve European institutional missions,” she mentioned. “That is the core purpose why the general public sector is funding this launcher and why we’ve got assured entry to house.”

Eumetsat, although, will not be the primary European institutional buyer to pick Falcon 9 for launches, notably throughout the “launcher disaster” that has restricted European entry to house. ESA launched its Euclid house telescope on a Falcon 9 a yr in the past, adopted in Could by the launch of EarthCARE, a joint Earth science mission with the Japanese house company JAXA. One other Falcon 9 will launch ESA’s Hera asteroid mission in October.

The European Fee additionally chosen Falcon 9 to launch Galileo navigation satellites, with one Falcon 9 launching a pair of satellites in April and one other pair slated to launch later this yr.

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