Spacecraft, Launch Vehicles & Satellites

KOUROU, French Guiana - On August 27 2026, Arianespace will launch the MTG-I2 meteorological satellite with the Ariane 62 configuration from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.

The mission is expected to last approximately 36 minutes from lift-off to satellite separation.

The mission MTG-I2 will mark the fourth Ariane 6 launch of the year and the first to a geostationary orbit.

Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) is part of a new generation of geostationary satellites providing imagery for the early detection of fast-developing severe storms, weather forecasting and climate monitoring. The combination of MTG's innovative instruments and their increased resolution and sensitivity offer significant enhancement on Meteosat Second Generation, particularly in the challenging task of early detection and prediction of rapidly evolving and potentially dangerous weather events such as severe thunderstorms. The MTG system is the most complex and innovative meteorological geostationary system ever built. Its fleet will comprise two imaging satellites and one sounding satellite in orbit 36,000km above the Earth.

The MTG-I2 satellite will complete the first family of the MTG system, the most powerful weather constellation in the world. MTG-I2 will provide a rapid scan service over Europe every 2.5 minutes, working together with Meteosat-12 (MTG-I1), which was successfully launched by Ariane 5 VA259 in December 2022, ensuring the continuity and resilience of Europe's operational meteorological services.

MTG satellites have been developed by ESA based on the users' requirement collected by EUMETSAT, and built by a large consortium of European industries led by Thales Alenia Space with main partners OHB System in Germany and Leonardo in Italy. EUMETSAT develops the ground infrastructure to control and communicate with the satellites, operates them throughout their lifetime, and disseminates the scientific data to users worldwide.

The satellite arrived in French Guiana on June 12 and is currently undergoing launch preparations at the Europe's Spaceport. Ariane 6 is a program developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) - ensuring development and monitoring operations to help deliver a reliable and available launch system for its Member States.

With this launch, Arianespace will further strengthen Europe's strategic and autonomous access to space for key institutional missions such as meteorological satellites, ensuring the continuity of weather forecasting and climate monitoring through a reliable and versatile launch service.

Source: Arianespace
Associated URL: https://newsroom.arianespace.com/arianespace-to-launch-weather-satellite-mtg-i2-on-ariane-6s-first-mission-to-geostationary-orbit-on-august-27-2026/?lang=eng

FARNBORUGH, U.K. - A Pre-Authorization to Proceed (PATP) contract was signed at the Farnborough Air Show between OHB System AG and MDA Space Ltd. for landing sensors for the future Argonaut spacecraft. The sensors, two LEIA Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR)s, will outfit the first Argonaut mission to the lunar surface. The LEIA (LiDAR for Exploration and Intelligent Autonomous Landing) features a pulsed laser beam to map the surface target.

The spacecraft is part of the European Space Agency's lunar lander program. The purpose of the craft is to deliver cargo to the Moon's surface to support NASA's Artemis program. The first mission is slated for 2030.

Thales Alenia Space will build the Lunar Descent Element (LDE), which will land the 'Passenger', a cargo platform. The Argonaut will launch on an Ariane 64.

The ESA Argonaut lander solves a fundamental operational requirement for the Artemis program: transitioning lunar exploration from short visits to a sustained human presence. Capable of landing 1.5 tonnes of cargo with high precision, Argonaut provides the routine, heavy-payload resupply needed to maintain surface infrastructure and life support. In doing so, it elevates Europe from a secondary mission contributor to a primary logistics manager, granting the continent strategic leverage, guaranteed astronaut opportunities, and a vital role in the future lunar economy.

Source: Forecast International
Associated URL: https://flightplan.forecastinternational.com/2026/07/22/argonaut-lander-secures-leia-lidar-for-2030-mission/

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Northrop Grumman’s Mission Robotic Vehicle and three Mission Extension Pods launched successfully, enhancing the resilience, mobility and sustainability of our nation’s assets in space.

Northrop Grumman’s significant investment and partnership with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) resulted in an innovative, autonomous, multi-function space robotics platform. The MRV will expand customer options for satellite servicing and enable new in-space operations including robotic satellite inspection, relocation, repair, debris removal, upgrades, experimentations and in-space assembly.

· First-of-its-kind Robotic Servicing. The MRV integrates DARPA’s robotics payload developed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, featuring two fully articulated robotic arms and specialized tools for unprecedented space missions.

· Life-Extension. The MEPs serve as "jetpacks" to provide supplemental propulsion to extend a satellite’s life and allow for maneuvering.

· Refuelable. The MRV launches with the first Passive Refueling Module (PRM), a Space Force-approved docking and refueling interface standard that enables MRV to be refueled on orbit and perform future sustained space maneuver missions.

· Artificial Intelligence. MRV launched with the advanced processing needed to support future AI-powered operations. Northrop Grumman uses AI to increase reliability, reduce costs, increase mission assurance, and soon, enable never-before-seen in-space servicing on future MRV operations.

Using Northrop Grumman’s proven expertise in rendezvous and proximity operations and docking, the MRV will safely dock with and service client satellites. With its successful Mission Extension Vehicles (MEV), the company’s first-generation satellite servicing spacecraft, Northrop Grumman is the first and only company to extend the life of commercial satellites running low on fuel. To date, the two on-orbit MEVs have docked with three commercial communications satellites in geosynchronous orbit and have provided more than ten years of combined mission extension services.

The MEPs build on the success of MEVs by offering a more affordable, smaller-form-factor life extension solution that can be rapidly deployed to a wide range of satellites. The MRV, MEV and MEPs leverage Northrop Grumman’s proven American manufacturing expertise. The company-built mission-enabling thermal control products and electronics protect and control MRV's robotic arms in space, while the space electronics aboard MRV’s electric propulsion thruster units are crucial to maneuvering the vehicle in space.

Source: Northrop Grumman
Associated URL: https://news.northropgrumman.com/launch/northrop-grummans-mission-robotic-vehicle-launches-ushering-in-a-new-era-of-in-space-servicing