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Meteosat First Generation satellite

The Meteosat series of satellites are geostationary meteorological satellites operated by EUMETSAT under the Meteosat Transition Programme (MTP) and the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) program.

The MTP program was established to ensure the operational continuity between the end of the successful Meteosat Operational Programme in 1995 and Meteosat Second Generation (MSG), which came into operation at the start of 2004 using improved satellites. The MSG program will provide service until the MTG (Meteosat Third Generation) program takes over.

First Generation

[edit]
Satellites in the first generation Meteosat series[1]
Satellite Launch date Launch Vehicle Launch Site Mission end
Meteosat-1 23 November 1977 Delta 2914 Cape Canaveral, LC-17A Imager failed in November 1979; data collection ended in 1984
Meteosat-2 10 June 1981 Ariane 1 Kourou, ELA-1 Moved to graveyard orbit in December 1991[2]
Meteosat-3 (Meteosat-P2) 15 June 1988 Ariane-44LP H10 Kourou, ELA-2 Retired in 1995
Meteosat-4 (MOP-1) 19 April 1989 Ariane-44LP H10 Kourou, ELA-2 Deactivated in November 1996.
Meteosat-5 (MOP-2) 02 March 1991 Ariane-44LP H10 Kourou, ELA-2 Decommissioned and placed into graveyard orbit in February 2007
Meteosat-6 (MOP-3) 20 November 1993 Ariane-44LP H10 Kourou, ELA-2 Continued data transmission service until late 2010 or in early 2011
Meteosat-7 (MTP/MOP-3) 03 September 1997 Ariane-44LP H10-3 Kourou, ELA-2 Placed into graveyard orbit in April 2017[3]

The first generation of Meteosat satellites, Meteosat-1 to Meteosat-7, provided continuous and reliable meteorological observations from space to a large user community. Meteosat-1 to -7 have all now retired.

When operational, the Meteosat First Generation provided images every half-hour in three spectral channels (Visible, Infrared) and Water Vapour, via the Meteosat Visible and Infrared Imager (MVIRI) instrument. Until 1 February 2017, Meteosat-7 provided the primary imagery coverage over the Indian Ocean and provided a service relaying data from Argos Data Collection Platforms (DCP), such as buoys, in support of the Tsunami Warning System for the Indian Ocean. A range of processed meteorological products were also produced.[4] The last disseminated Meteosat-7 image was on 31 March 2017. Moving Meteosat-7 to its ultimate resting place in a graveyard orbit commenced on 3 April 2017 and the spacecraft final command sent on 11 April 2017.

The satellites were manufactured by a consortium COSMOS, with Aérospatiale in its Cannes Mandelieu Space Centre, as Prime, and included Matra, MBB, Selenia Spazio, Marconi Company. They are 2.1 metres in diameter and 3.195 metres long. Its initial mass in orbit is 282 kg, and in orbit, the satellite spins at 100 rpm around its main axis.[5]

Second Generation ("MSG")

[edit]
Satellites in the second generation Meteosat series[6]
Satellite Launch date Launch Vehicle Launch Site Mission end
Meteosat-8 (MSG-1) 2002-08-28 22:45 UTC Ariane 5G Kourou, ELA-3 Retired 1 July 2022
Meteosat-9 (MSG-2) 2005-12-22 22:33 UTC Ariane 5GS Kourou, ELA-3 Availability lifetime is until 2025
Meteosat-10 (MSG-3) 2012-07-05 21:36 UTC Ariane 5ECA Kourou, ELA-3 Availability lifetime is until 2030
Meteosat-11 (MSG-4) 2015-07-15 21:05 UTC Ariane 5ECA Kourou, ELA-3 Availability lifetime is until 2033
Meteosat Second Generation
The MSG control centre in Darmstadt

Meteosat Second Generation was designed in response to user requirements to serve the needs of nowcasting applications and numerical weather prediction. In addition, the GERB instrument provides important data for climate monitoring and research. The MSG satellites are 3.2 m in diameter and 2.4 m high and spin anti-clockwise at 100 rpm[7] at an altitude of 36,000 km.[8]

The contract for the second generation was awarded to Aérospatiale in its Cannes Mandelieu Space Centre (now Thales Alenia Space), with main subcontractors as Matra, Messerschmitt, Alenia.

The satellites are spin-stabilised like the previous generation, but with many design improvements. The more frequent and comprehensive data collected by MSG also aids the weather forecaster in the swift recognition and prediction of dangerous weather phenomena such as thunderstorms, fog, and explosive development of small, but intense, depressions, which can lead to devastating wind storms.

On 29 January 2004 the first Meteosat Second Generation satellite MSG-1, renamed to Meteosat-8 once operational, commenced routine operations. In addition to the main optical payload SEVIRI (Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager), Meteosat-8 also carries the secondary payload GERB (Geostationary Earth Radiation Budget) instrument. The launch of MSG-2 (renamed to Meteosat-9) took place on 21 December 2005. The launch of MSG-3 (renamed to Meteosat-10) took place on 5 July 2012.

Meteosat-8 is stationed over the Indian Ocean, arriving at 41.5°E on 21 September 2016 and it took over as prime Indian Ocean Data Coverage (IODC) spacecraft on 1 February 2017 (replacing Meteosat-7). Meteosat-8 was retired from operational service on 1 July 2022 and finally decommissioned on 13 October 2022 after twenty years in orbit. The spacecraft was disposed of in compliance with ISO-24113 guidelines (although not designed with this in mind) having been raised 740km above the geostationary ring and spun down to 20rpm. The propulsion system was then passivated and the satellite deactivated.

Meteosat-9 is also stationed over the Indian Ocean, arriving at 45.5°E on 20 April 2022 and it took over as prime IODC spacecraft on 1 June 2022 (replacing Meteosat-8).

Meteosat-10 and -11 are located over Africa with various differences in operational configuration. Since 20 March 2018, Meteosat-10 provides an operational European 'rapid scan' mode service (the MSG RSS service first commenced in May 2008), with images of Europe every 5 minutes. Since 20 February 2018, Meteosat-11 provides the main full Earth imagery service over Europe and Africa (with images every 15-minutes).[9]

MSG-4 was successfully launched into space on 15 July 2015 at 18:42 local time on top an Ariane 5 Rocket from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. Like MSG-1, MSG-2 and MSG-3, MSG-4 was launched by Arianespace. The MSG-4 commissioning was successfully completed in December 2015 at which time the spacecraft was placed into in-orbit storage as planned, and renamed to Meteosat-11.

Secondary Payloads

[edit]

Meteosat-8, -9, -10, and -11 each carry a GERB Instrument, DCP capable service equipment and a Search and Rescue signal Processor (SARP) that is capable of detecting 406 MHz distress signals from emergency position-indicating radiobeacon stations.[10] For SARP, see more under Cospas-Sarsat.

Third Generation ("MTG")

[edit]
Satellites in the third generation Meteosat series[11]
Satellite Launch date Launch Vehicle Launch Site Mission end
Meteosat-12 (MTG-I1) 2022-12-13 20:30 UTC Ariane 5 ECA Kourou, ELA-3 TBD
Meteosat-13 (MTG-S1/Sentinel-4A) 2025-07-01 21:04 UTC Falcon 9 Block 5 Kennedy, LC-39A TBD
Meteosat-14 (MTG-I2) Planned for 2026 Ariane 62[12] Kourou, ELA-4 TBD
Meteosat-15 (MTG-I3) Planned for 2032 Ariane 64 Kourou, ELA-4 TBD
Meteosat-16 (MTG-S2/Sentinel-4B) Planned for 2035 Ariane 62 Kourou, ELA-4 TBD
Meteosat-17 (MTG-I4) Planned for 2036 Ariane 64 Kourou, ELA-4 TBD

Considering the long development cycle for a new observational space system, EUMETSAT has been working on the definition and the planning for a Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) system since the year 2000. MTG components providing continuity of MSG services need to be available before the end of the nominal lifetime of MSG. MTG preparatory activities started end of 2000 in cooperation with the European Space Agency (ESA), following the decision of the EUMETSAT Council to proceed with a Post-MSG User Consultation Process. The process is aimed at capturing the foreseeable needs of users of EUMETSAT's satellite data in the 2015-2025 timeframe.[13]

Artist's rendering of Meteosat Third Generation

On 19 March 2010, ESA chose Thales Alenia Space for a final negotiation leading to a contract to be signed during June.[14] On 22 June 2010, EUMETSAT confirmed the choice of Thales Alenia Space.[15] On 24 February 2012, the development contract between ESA and Thales Alenia Space was signed by Mr. Liebig and Mr. Seznec. Thales Alenia Space leads the industrial consortium that is now building the MTG family. Along with being the prime contractor, Thales Alenia Space is responsible for the MTG-I imaging satellite, including the primary payload, the Flexible Combined Imager. Bremen-based OHB is responsible for the MTG-S satellites and provision of the common satellite platforms, supported by Astrium GmbH as the System Architect.

A total of 6 satellites are being developed under the MTG contract. Four MTG-I imaging satellites, as well as two MTG-S sounder satellites. The launch of the first MTG satellite, Meteosat-12 (MTG-I1), occurred on 13 December 2022, at 20:30 UTC[16][17] and the satellite has been operational since December 2024.[18] This was followed by the first MTG-S (MTG-S1/Sentinel-4A with the first Sentinel-4 instrument aboard) launching on 1 July 2025 at 21:04 UTC.[19] The next MTG-I is expected to launch in 2026.[12] The following three satellites will be launched around 10 years later to replace the first set, which have a nominal life of 8.5 years and sufficient fuel for more than 10.7 years.[19]

References

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Meteosat

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Meteosat is a series of geostationary meteorological satellites operated by the , providing continuous visible and imagery and data from an orbit approximately 36,000 km above the for the early detection of , nowcasting, medium- to long-range forecasting, and monitoring over Europe, Africa, the , and surrounding regions since its inception in 1977. The Meteosat program originated as a European collaborative effort, with the first satellite, Meteosat-1, launched on November 23, 1977, by the European Space Agency (ESA) under the auspices of the European Space Research Organisation (ESRO), marking Europe's entry into operational geostationary meteorology. The First Generation (MFG) consisted of seven satellites (Meteosat-1 through -7), each designed for a nominal five-year lifespan but ultimately delivering data for four decades, from 1977 to 2017, with basic imaging instruments capturing full-disc images every 30 minutes in visible, infrared, and water vapor channels to support initial weather analysis and global data exchange via the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Meteosat-7, the last of this generation, was retired on March 31, 2017, after providing extended Indian Ocean Data Coverage (IODC) services. Building on this foundation, the Second Generation (MSG), developed jointly by ESA and , introduced enhanced capabilities with four satellites launched between 2002 and 2015: Meteosat-8 (August 2002), Meteosat-9 (December 2005), Meteosat-10 (July 5, 2012), and Meteosat-11 (July 2015). Equipped with the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI), which offers 12 spectral channels and improved (up to 1 km in visible bands), these satellites enable full-disc scans every 15 minutes and rapid-scan services every 5 minutes over for convective storm tracking. As of November 2025, following the handover of primary full-disc imaging to the Third Generation, Meteosat-9 provides IODC services over the (approximately 45.5° E) until at least 2027, Meteosat-11 delivers rapid scanning every 5 minutes over and (approximately 9.5° E), and Meteosat-10 serves as backup, with Meteosat-8 retired in 2022. The Third Generation (MTG), launched starting in 2022, represents a significant leap in technology, with a planned constellation of six satellites (four and two sounding) to extend operations into the 2040s and ensure over 60 years of continuous records. The first, Meteosat-12 (MTG-I1), was launched on December 13, 2022, and entered prime operational service at 0° on June 16, 2025, taking over primary full-disc from and featuring the Flexible Combined Imager (FCI) with 16 channels for higher-resolution (500 m to 4 km) and faster (10-minute full-disc) , alongside the first geostationary Lightning Imager (LI) to detect individual lightning strikes for nowcasting. MTG-S1, the inaugural sounding satellite, launched on July 1, 2025, and is in commissioning phase as of November 2025, carrying the Infrared Sounder (IRS) for vertical atmospheric profiling and the Ultraviolet, Visible, Near-Infrared (UVN) instrument for monitoring in support of air quality and applications. Future MTG satellites, including MTG-I2 scheduled for 2026, will further enhance multi-spectral observations for improved prediction, , and .

Overview

Program Origins and Objectives

The Meteosat program originated from efforts by the (ESRO), established on March 20, 1964, to foster collaborative space research among European nations for peaceful purposes. In 1972, ESRO initiated the Satellite project, which transitioned under the newly formed (ESA) framework following ESA's creation in 1975, marking Europe's first major applications-oriented space endeavor. The program was officially adopted in September 1972 by ESRO, enabling the development of a geostationary system dedicated to meteorological observations. The primary objectives of the Meteosat program centered on providing continuous, high-quality observations of weather patterns over , , and portions of the Atlantic and s to support nowcasting, medium-range forecasting, and monitoring. Positioned in at approximately 36,000 km altitude and initially at 0° longitude, the satellites enabled real-time imaging of cloud systems and atmospheric conditions across a vast region spanning more than 100 countries. To enhance global coverage, the program extended operations to additional longitudes, including 41°E and 57°E, beginning in 1998 for dedicated Indian Ocean Data Coverage (IODC) to aid tracking and regional weather services. A key milestone occurred in 1986 when the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites () was established through a convention that entered into force on June 19, ensuring long-term operational continuity beyond ESA's research phase. assumed full responsibility for satellite operations starting in 1987, focusing on data dissemination to meteorological services. International collaborations, particularly data-sharing agreements with the U.S. (), have been integral since the program's inception, facilitating complementary coverage from geostationary satellites like GOES and enabling global weather monitoring through frameworks such as the Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites (CGMS). These partnerships underscore Meteosat's role in a cooperative international network for enhanced forecasting accuracy. The program's evolution to second- and third-generation satellites has built on these foundations to deliver improved temporal and for advancing weather prediction and .

Orbital Configuration and Coverage

The Meteosat satellites are positioned in a at an altitude of 35,786 km above the Earth's , with zero inclination, enabling them to remain fixed over a specific while rotating synchronously with the . This orbital setup, first implemented by the initial Meteosat satellites in the , allows for uninterrupted viewing of the same geographic area, providing a platform for continuous meteorological monitoring without ground-based tracking adjustments. The primary operational slot at 0° longitude delivers full disk imaging encompassing Europe, North Africa, the Atlantic Ocean, and portions of the Middle East, with the observable disk covering latitudes up to approximately 81° north and south, and a longitude span of roughly 65°W to 65°E centered on the sub-satellite point. At nadir over central Europe, this configuration yields the highest spatial resolution, around 2.5 km per pixel in visible bands for early satellites, though resolution degrades toward the disk edges due to increasing viewing angles. Since 1998, coverage has been extended through the Indian Ocean Data Coverage (IODC) service at dedicated slots, including 57°E (occupied by Meteosat-7 from 2006 to 2017) and subsequently 41.5°E, to monitor the Middle East, East Africa, and the Indian Ocean basin. Orbital slots for the Meteosat series are managed in coordination with (ITU) regulations, which allocate geostationary positions to minimize interference among global satellite networks. This includes strategies for backups, such as standby satellites at nearby longitudes, and relocations like the 2017 shift following Meteosat-7's service at 57°E. Over time, the coverage has evolved from an initial emphasis on and to broader regional extensions, enhancing inputs for global models by filling gaps in tropical ocean observations.

First-Generation Satellites

Design and Primary Instruments

The first-generation Meteosat satellites employed a spin-stabilized cylindrical bus to maintain orientation in , featuring a of 2.1 meters and a height of 3.2 meters, with a dry of approximately 290 kg and a launch around 670-700 kg including propellant and the . The bus was powered by body-mounted solar arrays generating an average of 200 W, supported by batteries for eclipse periods, and included a solid-propellant for final circularization after launch. Designed for a nominal operational life of 5 years—though many satellites far exceeded this—the platform spun at 100 rpm for passive stabilization, with thrusters for station-keeping. The primary instrument aboard these satellites was the Meteosat Visible and Imager (MVIRI), a pioneering three-channel that provided essential visible and imagery for meteorological observation. MVIRI operated in the visible channel (0.4–1.1 μm) at a resolution of 2.5 km, the thermal channel (10.5–12.5 μm) at 5 km resolution, and the channel (5.7–7.1 μm) also at 5 km resolution, enabling detection of , surface temperatures, and upper-tropospheric moisture patterns. This imager represented a foundational advancement in geostationary , prioritizing broad spectral coverage over high to support nowcasting and weather analysis across , , and the Atlantic region. MVIRI's imaging mechanism relied on the satellite's spin axis, aligned nearly parallel to 's rotational axis, to perform continuous full-disk scans of the visible Earth hemisphere using a fixed Ritchey-Chrétien telescope and photodetectors mounted on the spinning platform. Each scan captured the complete disk in approximately 25 minutes, with a 30-minute repeat cycle that yielded 48 full-disk images per day, allowing frequent monitoring of rapidly evolving weather systems. The visible channel employed dual detectors to achieve its finer resolution, while channels used a single detector, with data sampled electronically during each rotation to build composite images without mechanical scanning mirrors. Power for MVIRI and satellite operations was supplied by the 200 W solar array, which covered the cylindrical body's outer panels with over 8,000 cells, regulated to a 28 V bus and supplemented by nickel-cadmium batteries for reliable performance during orbital night. Telemetry and raw image data were transmitted in real time via an S-band downlink operating at up to 8.2 Mbps, ensuring high-fidelity delivery to EUMETSAT's primary ground stations at Fucino, , and Weilheim, , for immediate processing and dissemination. Key limitations of the design included the absence of onboard , necessitating uninterrupted ground contact for all transmissions, and reliance on a single visible/ without dedicated instruments for vertical profiling of or . These constraints, while sufficient for the era's operational needs, were later mitigated in subsequent generations through enhanced storage, multi-instrument payloads, and improved resolutions.

Launches and Operational Timeline

The first-generation Meteosat satellites marked Europe's entry into geostationary meteorological observations, with launches spanning from 1977 to 1997 using a progression of launch vehicles that transitioned from U.S. to European rockets. These satellites were deployed to provide overlapping coverage, ensuring uninterrupted service primarily from the over the . Meteosat-1 served as the , validating the system's design during its initial operational phase. Subsequent satellites built on this foundation, with later models incorporating minor enhancements for extended reliability. Meteosat-3 was a refurbished engineering launched after delays in the operational program. The following table summarizes the launch and operational details for the first-generation satellites:
SatelliteLaunch DateLauncherOperational PeriodKey Notes
Meteosat-123 November 1977Delta1977–1979; positioned at 0° .
Meteosat-219 June 19811981–1988Primary service at 0° .
Meteosat-315 June 19881988–1995Refurbished ; used for Indian Ocean Data Coverage testing and pioneered rapid imaging mode with 12-minute repeat cycles for monitoring over .
Meteosat-46 March 19891989–1995Primary imaging at 0° .
Meteosat-52 March 19911991–2007Relocated to 63°E for Data Coverage from 1998.
Meteosat-620 November 19931993–2011Provided rapid scanning service; experienced attitude control loss in 1998, limiting it to backup roles thereafter.
Meteosat-72 September 19971997–2017Primary at 0° until 2012, then Data Coverage at 57°E until deorbit; served as backup during second-generation transition.
Throughout their missions, the satellites focused on full-disc imaging every 30 minutes from at 0° longitude, delivering real-time views of weather systems across , , and the Atlantic. Meteosat-3's relocation and testing introduced faster scan capabilities, enabling 12-minute updates over limited regions to track events more effectively than the standard cycle. Later satellites like Meteosat-5 and -7 extended coverage to the region under international agreements, supporting monitoring. Several anomalies impacted operations, including a design fault in Meteosat-1's under-voltage protection unit that caused battery failure and ended after roughly two years, far short of its planned three-year lifespan. Meteosat-6 suffered attitude control degradation in 1998 due to subsystem issues, restricting its primary duties and shifting it to secondary scanning roles until 2006. These incidents highlighted the challenges of long-duration geostationary missions, yet robust systems allowed for station-keeping and repositioning maneuvers. The first-generation fleet delivered over 40 years of continuous geostationary data from to , forming the foundational European archive of meteorological imagery and enabling advancements in and studies. This extended service far surpassed the original five-year design life, thanks to efficient power and propulsion features that minimized fuel consumption. At end-of-life, each satellite was actively deorbited to comply with international mitigation standards, using remaining thruster propellant for a series of burns to raise perigee and transfer to graveyard s above the geostationary belt. Meteosat-7, for instance, underwent staged maneuvers in early 2017 to achieve a disposal approximately 300 km higher, preventing long-term orbital clutter. Similar procedures were applied to predecessors like Meteosat-6 in , ensuring safe passivation and clearance.

Second-Generation Satellites (MSG)

Design Enhancements and Instruments

The Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) satellites feature a spin-stabilized bus platform, marking a continuity from the first-generation design while incorporating enhancements for extended operational life and improved autonomy. The cylindrical spacecraft, constructed by Airbus Defence and Space (formerly EADS Astrium), measures 3.2 meters in diameter and 3.7 meters in height, with a launch mass of approximately 2,000 kg. This configuration supports a design lifetime of 7 years, achieved through redundant systems and failure detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR) mechanisms that enable up to 24 hours of autonomous operation. Telemetry and command functions utilize an S-band system with data rates up to 8 kbps for housekeeping, complemented by L-band for high-volume payload data transmission at around 3.75 Mbps. The primary instrument on MSG satellites is the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI), a 12-channel that significantly advances imaging capabilities over its predecessors. SEVIRI operates across wavelengths from 0.4 to 14.4 μm, including three visible/near-infrared channels, one high-resolution visible (HRV) channel, and eight infrared channels sensitive to , , and aerosols. Spatial resolutions vary by channel: 1 km at for the HRV band, enabling detailed and surface feature detection, and 3 km for the other channels. This setup allows for full-disk imaging of the every 15 minutes, supporting rapid updates for monitoring. SEVIRI's imaging technology leverages the satellite's at 100 revolutions per minute, employing a 50 cm and a scanning mirror to achieve continuous, gap-free coverage without mechanical stepping. The instrument completes a full-disk scan in 12 minutes, followed by 3 minutes for and retrace, using 42 detectors per channel for enhanced signal-to-noise ratios. Onboard data compression reduces the raw data volume from 7.5 Mbps to manageable rates for downlink. A secondary payload, the Geostationary Earth Radiation Budget () instrument, complements SEVIRI by measuring 's radiation balance. Supporting systems ensure reliable geostationary positioning and . The solar array, comprising eight carbon-fiber-reinforced panels with high-efficiency cells, generates 740 at beginning-of-life, scaling to 600 at end-of-life, while two 29 Ah nickel-cadmium batteries provide 1,200 Wh capacity for periods. Propulsion is handled by a bipropellant system with 976 kg of and , including two 400 N apogee motors and smaller thrusters for station-keeping, maintaining longitudinal drift below 0.03 degrees per day. These enhancements over the first-generation Meteosat satellites include four times faster imaging cycles (15 minutes versus 30 minutes), additional spectral channels for and monitoring, and integrated compression to optimize data handling.

Launches, Operations, and Status

The Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) satellites were launched using rockets from the in , . Meteosat-8 (MSG-1) lifted off on August 28, 2002, followed by Meteosat-9 (MSG-2) on December 22, 2005, Meteosat-10 (MSG-3) on July 5, 2012, and Meteosat-11 (MSG-4) on July 15, 2015. Following commissioning, the satellites were assigned to operational roles supporting weather monitoring over , , and the region. Meteosat-8 served initially as the primary full-disk imager at 0° longitude from 2004 until 2012, then as a backup until its relocation to 41.5°E for Indian Ocean Data Coverage (IODC) in 2016, serving in that role until its retirement on 1 July 2022. Meteosat-9 operated as the primary at 0° from 2012 to 2022, after which it was repositioned to 45.5°E for IODC service starting in June 2022, a role it continues to fulfill with 15-minute imaging cycles via the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI). Meteosat-10 served as primary full-disk at 0° from 2013 to 2018, then in rapid scan mode at 9.5°E from 2018 until March 2023, when it was moved to 0° as the primary full-disk satellite, providing imagery every 15 minutes. Meteosat-11, after in-orbit storage until late 2017, took over primary full-disk duties at 0° from 2018 to 2023 and has since operated in rapid scan service at 9.5°E, delivering images every 5 minutes over and northern since April 2023. As of November 2025, Meteosat-10 and Meteosat-11 remain fully active, with Meteosat-10 providing full-disk coverage at 0° in parallel operations as backup to the primary Meteosat-12 since 16 June 2025, ensuring 15-minute updates for meteorological services until at least Q2 2027. Meteosat-9 continues IODC support at 45.5°E, also with 15-minute intervals. is implementing contingency planning for the anticipated MSG end-of-life around 2027, including fuel management to extend usability and preparations for full handover to the Third Generation fleet. The MSG satellites, designed for a nominal 7-year lifespan, have achieved mission extensions through fuel-efficient station-keeping maneuvers, surpassing 12 years of service for the earliest units. For instance, Meteosat-10 experienced a anomaly in 2019 affecting its attitude control, which was successfully recovered via onboard redundancies and software reconfiguration, allowing continued operations without interruption. Backup strategies emphasize seamless transitions, with Meteosat-10 slated to serve as a contingency backup to Meteosat-12 post-2027 and coordinated parallel imaging to minimize service gaps during MTG handovers.

Third-Generation Satellites (MTG)

Design Advancements and Instruments

The Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) satellites feature an advanced three-axis stabilized bus platform, providing precise pointing accuracy for instrument operations in . The platform measures approximately 2.3 m × 2.8 m × 5.2 m when stowed for launch, with a launch of around 3,600 kg for imaging satellites (MTG-I) and 3,800 kg for sounding satellites (MTG-S), including fuel. Designed for a nominal operational lifetime of 8.5 years, with propellant reserves supporting up to 10.7 years, the bus incorporates chemical using (MMH) and nitrogen tetroxide (NTO) for station-keeping and attitude control. Enhanced measures protect critical electronics against the GEO radiation environment, ensuring long-term reliability. The primary imaging instrument, the Flexible Combined Imager (FCI), represents a significant advancement over the second-generation Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) by offering greater spectral coverage and flexibility. It operates across 16 channels spanning visible to thermal infrared wavelengths (0.4–13.3 μm), with spatial resolutions ranging from 0.5 km in the visible/near-infrared bands to 2 km in the infrared bands. The FCI achieves a full-disk repeat cycle of 10 minutes and supports multiple scanning modes, including rapid scanning over Europe (every 2.5 minutes at 1 km resolution) and targeted regional scans for high-priority events. Complementing the FCI on MTG-S satellites is the Infrared Sounder (IRS), a hyperspectral instrument enabling detailed vertical profiling of , , and trace gases. Operating in two bands from approximately 4–15 μm (corresponding to wavenumbers 700–1210 cm⁻¹ in the and 1600–2175 cm⁻¹ in the ), the IRS provides around 2,378 spectral channels with a resolution of 0.6 cm⁻¹ and a 4 km footprint at . It performs step-and-stare scanning to deliver full-disk soundings every hour or focused scans over every 30 minutes, facilitating three-dimensional atmospheric mapping. The , Visible, Near-Infrared (UVN) instrument, known as Sentinel-4, is a push-broom spectrometer operating in the 305–775 nm range across three bands (UV: 305–400 nm, VIS: 400–500 nm, NIR: 750–775 nm). It provides hourly full-disk images with a of 8 km at for monitoring atmospheric trace gases such as , , , and aerosols, supporting air quality assessment, emission tracking from volcanoes and fires, and UV radiation forecasting. The Lightning Imager (LI) enhances severe weather monitoring with continuous detection of lightning activity across a broad field of view. Comprising four independent cameras sensitive to optical pulses at 777 nm, the LI covers the full Earth disk visible from geostationary orbit (approximately 42° × 42° field of view), including Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and parts of South America, with a nadir resolution of 4.5 km. It captures up to 1,000 images per second, detecting all types of lightning (intra-cloud, cloud-to-cloud, and cloud-to-ground) to support nowcasting of thunderstorms. The MTG power subsystem relies on dual deployable solar arrays generating up to 2 kW, supplemented by batteries for periods, to meet the demands of the multi-instrument . telemetry is handled via a Ka-band downlink for high-volume at rates up to 260 Mbps, with X-band options for certain housekeeping and auxiliary transmissions, enabling efficient dissemination of imagery and soundings.

Launches, Operations, and Future Plans

The Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) program began its deployment with the launch of the first Imager satellite, MTG-I1 (renamed Meteosat-12), on December 13, 2022, aboard an rocket from Europe's Spaceport in , . This satellite reached at 0° and underwent commissioning, entering full operational service on December 4, 2024, following validation of its Flexible Combined Imager (FCI). The first Sounder satellite, MTG-S1, followed on July 1, 2025, launched via a rocket from NASA's in , carrying the Infrared Sounder (IRS) for vertical atmospheric profiling alongside the Sentinel-4 instrument. The second Imager, MTG-I2 (to be renamed Meteosat-13), is scheduled for launch in mid-2026 on an Ariane 62 rocket, marking the inaugural commercial flight of this variant after adjustments from the originally planned Ariane 64 configuration. Subsequent Imager launches, including MTG-I3 and MTG-I4, are planned at intervals of approximately three to four years to build redundancy and extend coverage. As of November 2025, Meteosat-12 serves as the primary operational satellite at 0° longitude, delivering full-disc FCI imagery every 10 minutes to support nowcasting and monitoring across , , and the region since assuming prime service duties on June 16, 2025. MTG-S1, positioned at 0° longitude in parallel, is in its post-launch commissioning phase, with initial IRS data validation underway to enable high-vertical-resolution soundings of , , and trace gases every 30 minutes once fully operational in early 2026. Integration of MTG-I2 will occur post-launch, ensuring overlap with Meteosat-12 for a seamless transition, while the Flexible Combined Imager and Infrared Sounder capabilities enhance rapid-update observations for meteorological applications. Future plans for the MTG constellation aim to achieve full deployment by the early , comprising four Imager satellites for continuous imaging and two Sounder satellites for atmospheric profiling, providing over 20 years of service through 2040 and beyond. MTG-I4 is designated to maintain Indian Ocean Data Coverage (IODC) at 41.5° East, supporting monitoring for members in the region. The second Sounder, MTG-S2 (to be renamed Meteosat-16), is targeted for launch around 2035 to replace MTG-S1 and ensure sounder redundancy. Long-term extensions may incorporate upgrades under a potential MTG Next initiative to sustain geostationary observations past 2040, aligning with EUMETSAT's strategy for and continuity. Deployment has faced challenges, including delays in the transition, which postponed MTG-I2 from 2025 to 2026 due to technical anomalies and certification issues with the rocket's upper stage. These setbacks necessitated switching MTG-S1 to a launcher, but has coordinated to maintain handover timelines from the Second-Generation Meteosat series, minimizing disruptions to operational data streams.

Data Products and Applications

Image Acquisition and Processing

The acquisition process for first-generation Meteosat satellites relies on sequential line scanning enabled by the spacecraft's at 100 revolutions per minute, producing a full-disk every 30 minutes through 2500 scan lines acquired over , followed by a brief retrace period. In contrast, second-generation Meteosat (MSG) satellites use the SEVIRI instrument's step-stare scanning mechanism, where the scan mirror steps to discrete positions and stares to collect data, completing a full-disk across 12 channels every 15 minutes. Third-generation Meteosat (MTG) satellites advance this with the FCI instrument's step-and-stare technique, involving 70 swaths to the full disk in 16 channels approximately every 10 minutes. Onboard processing in first-generation satellites transmits in real-time without storage, using analog to downlink raw directly to ground stations. Subsequent generations incorporate compression to manage volume, achieving reductions of about 10 times through techniques such as JPEG-like encoding for SEVIRI and for FCI, alongside limited buffering—up to one hour in MSG and MTG—to handle transmission delays. These processes ensure efficient handling of high-resolution multispectral before downlink. At the ground segment, EUMETSAT's Main Control Centre in , , receives telemetry and generates Level 1b radiance products by applying radiometric and geometric corrections to raw counts. Processed imagery is formatted in standards like HRIT (High Rate Information Transmission), LRIT (Low Rate Information Transmission), , and BUFR for dissemination via EUMETCast, a using over commercial geostationary satellites to deliver near-real-time data globally. Calibration maintains data accuracy across generations: vicarious methods employ stable desert sites, such as those in the , to validate visible and near- channels by comparing observed reflectances against models, while channels use onboard blackbody references for absolute radiance scaling. Geometric account for rotation and satellite attitude variations during the extended imaging cycles, ensuring precise geolocation of pixels to within a few kilometers at . The evolution of Meteosat data handling has progressed from analog in the first-generation systems, which provided basic thermal and visible imagery, to fully digital, hyperspectral capabilities in MTG, enabling real-time derivation of nowcasting products like cloud masks through automated ground-based algorithms that classify scenes using multispectral thresholds. As of 2025, MTG introduces operational lightning flash detection products from the Lightning Imager and infrared soundings from the Infrared Sounder for enhanced nowcasting and monitoring. This shift supports enhanced and spectral detail for operational .

Meteorological and Scientific Uses

Meteosat satellites provide critical data for nowcasting and short-term by deriving atmospheric motion vectors (AMVs), also known as cloud motion winds, from sequential visible and infrared images that track the displacement of clouds and patterns. These AMVs offer upper-level wind estimates essential for models, such as the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Integrated Forecasting System, where they contribute to improved global circulation analysis and forecast accuracy. Additionally, the channels enable the detection of phenomena, including deep and potential for strong thunderstorms, by identifying upper-tropospheric dry anomalies and indices that signal convective development. In climate monitoring, Meteosat's geostationary vantage supports the creation of long-term datasets capturing diurnal cycles of surface , land surface temperature, and optical depth (AOD), which reveal daily variations in atmospheric composition and energy balance over and . Instantaneous AOD retrievals from second-generation instruments like SEVIRI achieve high accuracy (correlation of 0.79, error of 0.08), enabling studies of diurnal evolution and its radiative impacts. The first-generation archive, spanning approximately 1982 to 2017, forms a foundational data record of visible and imagery, reprocessed for trend analysis in , surface , and atmospheric motion, supporting investigations into multi-decadal variability. Meteosat data has proven vital in real-world applications, such as tracking plumes during the 2010 eruption, where Meteosat-9 imagery monitored ash dispersion across , aiding and dispersion modeling. For tropical cyclone monitoring over the , satellites like Meteosat-7 and Meteosat-8 deliver frequent imagery to track storm intensification and paths, as seen in cyclones Gati (2020) and Freddy (2023), providing early warnings to vulnerable coastal regions. Scientifically, Meteosat observations validate models by supplying benchmark datasets for simulating atmospheric dynamics and land-atmosphere interactions, including comparisons of derived winds and radiation fluxes against model outputs. studies benefit from (NDVI) products, which track seasonal greening and drought impacts across using multi-channel data. The third-generation Imager (LI) on Meteosat Third Generation satellites extends this to regional lightning climatology over its coverage area (, , and surrounding oceans), linking observations to historical datasets like TRMM LIS for analyzing trends and effects on frequency. Data from all Meteosat generations is freely disseminated through 's open-access portals, including the and User Portal, ensuring broad availability for research and operations. Integration with the European Union's Copernicus program enhances this by combining Meteosat products with other Sentinel data for comprehensive environmental services, such as atmosphere and climate monitoring.

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