An Arianespace Vega launcher successfully placed Morocco's Mohammed VI–A Earth observation satellite into orbit on 7th November. It is the 11th successful flight for the European light launcher since 2012 and its eighth launch of an Earth observation satellite.

The dual civil/military satellite will be used for mapping and land surveying activities, regional development, agricultural monitoring, the prevention and management of natural disasters, monitoring changes in the environment and desertification. The 1,110kg platform will be followed next year by a second, identical satellite.

Thales Alenia Space, as system prime contractor, supplied the payload, including the optical instrument, the image transmission subsystem, and the ground segment for image processing and production. Airbus, as satellite prime contractor, was in charge of its integration, as well as supplying the platform and the ground segment for mission planning and satellite control.

Including this latest mission, Arianespace has now orbited 64 Earth observation satellites for government and commercial customers, including the European Copernicus programme and Eumetsat meteorological satellites.

Arianespace’s next launch is set for 12th December, when an Ariane 5 rocket is scheduled to orbit four Galileo navigation satellites.