Successful launch of Airbus-built Sentinel-4 onboard MTG weather satellite

The launch proceeded as planned and marks a significant advancement in Europe’s Earth observation capabilities.

“The successful launch of Sentinel-4 on board MTG-S1 is further proof of the innovation and successful collaboration within the European space sector,” said Alain Fauré, Head of Space Systems at Airbus. “The data provided by Sentinel-4 will be an essential contribution to the Copernicus programme, helping us to monitor, and ultimately improve air quality for citizens across Europe.”

Sentinel-4, developed in Germany on behalf of ESA, is a UV-VIS-NIR spectrometer that will deliver unprecedented high temporal resolution data on the composition of Earth’s atmosphere. Key measurements will include nitrogen dioxide, ozone, sulphur dioxide, and formaldehyde, as well as aerosols. This data is crucial for monitoring air quality across Europe, forecasting air pollution events, and understanding long-term changes in the atmosphere.

The integration of Sentinel-4 onto the MTG weather satellite provides a unique opportunity for the simultaneous observation of weather phenomena and atmospheric chemical composition. This synergistic data acquisition will contribute to more accurate weather forecasts and a better understanding of the interactions between weather and climate.