The European Space Agency launched MTG‑I2, the second imaging satellite of its
third‑generation Meteosat system, on an Ariane 6 rocket from Kourou on the
afternoon of the 27th local time. The satellite separated from the upper stage
about 36 minutes after liftoff and ground stations later confirmed telemetry.
MTG‑I2 carries a lightning imager for continuous lightning monitoring and a
Flexible Combined Imager designed to map rapidly evolving weather systems for
timely warnings.