On August 12, 2025, at 21:27 local time, the European heavy launcher Ariane 6 lifted off from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou to place the European meteorological satellite Metop-SG-A1 into orbit. On board are six instruments dedicated to observing the Earth’s atmosphere, including the IASI-New Generation mission.

Proposed in 2009 by LMD and LATMOS, IASI-NG aims to ensure continuity of the IASI mission—launched in 2006—for over 20 years, while doubling its main performance capabilities. LMD coordinated the scientific preparation activities for the mission and is actively preparing for the future exploitation of the observations, in particular to monitor some sixteen essential climate variables (temperature and water vapor profiles, ocean and land surface temperatures, greenhouse gases, desert dust, and cloud cover).

Launch video link: https://lnkd.in/eMXWehF9

IASI-NG presentation video with interview: https://lnkd.in/ejBkrv9A