In March 2025, a small satellite called UVSQ-SAT NG was launched into space. Developed by Latmos, a French research laboratory focused on atmospheric and space observations, the satellite is part of a growing trend in France known as the New Space sector. This initiative encourages academic and research institutions to use small satellites to test new technologies and measurement techniques in real space conditions. The goal is to better understand Earth's energy balance and monitor greenhouse gases, which play a key role in climate change. Similar projects, such as the SERB concept in 2013 and the ARM-SAT project in 2015, have used small satellites to study the atmosphere and improve environmental monitoring. UVSQ-SAT NG is a 6U CubeSat, a type of small satellite with standardized dimensions. When fully deployed, it measures about 111.3 cm in length, 36.6 cm in width, and 38.8 cm in height, and weighs around 10 kilograms. It orbits Earth at an altitude of about 600 kilometers, allowing it to point its instruments toward various directions, including Earth's surface, the edge of the atmosphere, the Sun, and even deep space. The satellite carries a variety of scientific instruments, including wideband radiative sensors to measure solar radiation and Earth's outgoing energy, a near-infrared spectrometer to detect atmospheric gases like carbon dioxide and methane, and a high-definition camera called NanoCam. This camera provides detailed images of Earth's surface and helps in accurately locating the areas observed by the spectrometer. It can also capture images of Earth’s edge, helping to study the vertical distribution of atmospheric temperature. The project brings together researchers, engineers, students, and partners from multiple institutions, including UVSQ (Université Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines), the NewSpace Master's program at Université Paris-Saclay, Estaca, and the IUT of Mantes-en-Yvelines. Students are actively involved in the design, testing, and operation of the satellite, gaining hands-on experience in areas such as optics, electronics, mechanics, embedded software, telecommunications, and atmospheric modeling. This collaboration not only advances scientific knowledge but also trains the next generation of space professionals. UVSQ-SAT NG is more than just a research tool—it is a technological and scientific demonstrator designed to test new instruments, technologies, and observation methods in orbit. It builds on earlier work begun in 2021, which focused on studying Earth's radiation budget and the distribution of greenhouse gases. The satellite also serves as a test platform for ground-based optical communication devices and laser experiments between Earth and space, in collaboration with the Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur. In its first year in orbit, UVSQ-SAT NG has already completed over 5,400 orbits, traveling nearly 240 million kilometers, showcasing its reliability and the success of the mission so far.