Meteosat
| Company type | Satellite constellation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Meteorology, Earth observation |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Founder | EUMETSAT |
Area served | Europe, Africa, Indian Ocean |
Key people | EUMETSAT (operator) |
| Products | Meteorological satellite data and imagery |
| Parent | EUMETSAT |
The Meteosat satellite constellation consists of geostationary meteorological satellites managed by EUMETSAT through the Meteosat Transition Programme (MTP) and the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) initiative.
The MTP ensured seamless operational service following the conclusion of the Meteosat Operational Programme in 1995 until the MSG program commenced in 2004, introducing more advanced satellite technology. The MSG series will remain operational until superseded by the Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) system.
First Generation
| Satellite | Launch date | Launch Vehicle | Launch Site | Mission end |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meteosat-1 | 23 November 1977 | Delta 2914 | Cape Canaveral, LC-17A | Imager failure November 1979; ceased data transmission 1984 |
| Meteosat-2 | 10 June 1981 | Ariane 1 | Kourou, ELA-1 | Relocated to graveyard orbit December 1991 |
| 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 November 1996 |
| Meteosat-5 (MOP-2) | 02 March 1991 | Ariane-44LP H10 | Kourou, ELA-2 | Decommissioned and moved to graveyard orbit February 2007 |
| Meteosat-6 (MOP-3) | 20 November 1993 | Ariane-44LP H10 | Kourou, ELA-2 | Continued data transmission until late 2010 or early 2011 |
| Meteosat-7 (MTP/MOP-3) | 03 September 1997 | Ariane-44LP H10-3 | Kourou, ELA-2 | Transitioned to graveyard orbit April 2017 |
The initial generation, from Meteosat-1 through Meteosat-7, delivered uninterrupted meteorological monitoring to a wide range of users; all units have since been retired.
These satellites operated by capturing images every thirty minutes across three spectral bands—Visible, Infrared, and Water Vapour—using the Meteosat Visible and Infrared Imager (MVIRI). Up until February 2017, Meteosat-7 served as the primary imaging source over the Indian Ocean and facilitated data relay from Argos Data Collection Platforms crucial for the Tsunami Warning System. Its final image was broadcast on 31 March 2017, with decommissioning procedures starting in April.
Constructed by the COSMOS consortium led by Aérospatiale at Cannes Mandelieu Space Centre alongside partners Matra, MBB, Selenia Spazio, and Marconi Company, these satellites measure approximately 2.1 meters in diameter and extend to about 3.195 meters in length. Their launch mass was around 282 kg, and they maintained a spin rate of roughly 100 revolutions per minute along their primary axis.
Second Generation ("MSG")
| Satellite | Launch date | Launch Vehicle | Launch Site | Mission end |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meteosat-8 (MSG-1) | 28 August 2002, 22:45 UTC | Ariane 5G | Kourou, ELA-3 | Retired on 1 July 2022 |
| Meteosat-9 (MSG-2) | 22 December 2005, 22:33 UTC | Ariane 5GS | Kourou, ELA-3 | Operational lifetime projected until 2025 |
| Meteosat-10 (MSG-3) | 05 July 2012, 21:36 UTC | Ariane 5ECA | Kourou, ELA-3 | Operational lifetime projected until 2030 |
| Meteosat-11 (MSG-4) | 15 July 2015, 21:05 UTC | Ariane 5ECA | Kourou, ELA-3 | Operational lifetime projected until 2033 |
The development of Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) was driven by requirements for enhanced nowcasting and numerical weather prediction capabilities; additionally, the GERB instrument incorporated climate observation functions. These satellites have a diameter of approximately 3.2 meters and a height near 2.4 meters, rotating at a speed of about 100 rpm at an orbital altitude around 36,000 kilometers.
The manufacturing contract was granted to Aérospatiale at Cannes Mandelieu Space Centre (currently Thales Alenia Space), with major subcontractors including Matra, Messerschmitt, and Alenia.
While retaining spin-stabilisation like their predecessors, MSG satellites feature considerable design advancements. Their improved data acquisition rate and quality enable timely identification and forecasting of severe meteorological phenomena such as thunderstorms, fog events, and intense low-pressure systems capable of producing damaging winds.
MSG-1 (later designated Meteosat-8) commenced routine operations on January 29, 2004, equipped with the primary SEVIRI optical imager alongside the GERB instrument. MSG-2 (renamed Meteosat-9) launched on December 21, 2005; MSG-3 (Meteosat-10) followed on July 5, 2012.
In September 2016, Meteosat-8 was relocated to an orbital position over the Indian Ocean at longitude 41.5°E and assumed the role as principal Indian Ocean Data Coverage (IODC) satellite in February 2017, succeeding Meteosat-7. After nearly twenty years in service, it was retired on July 1, 2022 and subsequently decommissioned in October 2022 according to ISO-24113 disposal standards by elevating its orbit and deactivating onboard systems.
In June 2022, Meteosat-9 replaced it as the prime IODC satellite positioned at longitude 45.5°E.
Meanwhile, Meteosat-10 and Meteosat-11 operate over Africa with distinct functional assignments. Since March 2018, Meteosat-10 has provided rapid scan imagery over Europe at five-minute intervals whereas Meteosat-11 captures full-disc images covering Europe and Africa every fifteen minutes.
MSG-4 successfully launched on July 15, 2015 aboard an Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou. Following completion of commissioning in December 2015 it was placed into on-orbit storage status and renamed Meteosat-11.
Additional Payloads
Each of the Meteosat satellites 8 through 11 is equipped with a GERB instrument, devices supporting DCP services, and a Search and Rescue signal Processor (SARP) designed to identify distress signals at 406 MHz emitted by emergency position-indicating radiobeacon stations. Further information on SARP can be found under Cospas-Sarsat.
Third Generation ("MTG")
| 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) | Scheduled for 2026 | Ariane 64 | Kourou, ELA-4 | TBD |
| Meteosat-15 (MTG-I3) | Scheduled for 2032 | Ariane 64 | Kourou, ELA-4 | TBD |
| Meteosat-16 (MTG-S2/Sentinel-4B) | Scheduled for 2035 | Ariane 62 | Kourou, ELA-4 | TBD |
| Meteosat-17 (MTG-I4) | Scheduled for 2036 | Ariane 64 | Kourou, ELA-4 | TBD |
Since 2000, EUMETSAT has been advancing the Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) program to guarantee the continuation of MSG capabilities beyond their operational lifespan. Preparatory work commenced in collaboration with ESA after conducting a Post-MSG User Consultation Process aimed at identifying user requirements for the period spanning 2015 to 2025.
On March 19, 2010, ESA appointed Thales Alenia Space as the principal contractor for MTG development—a decision ratified by EUMETSAT in June of the same year. The formal agreement was finalized in February 2012. Thales Alenia Space leads the industrial consortium and oversees the MTG-I imaging satellites along with the Flexible Combined Imager payload. OHB-System, based in Bremen, manages the MTG-S sounder satellites and shared satellite platforms, with Astrium GmbH providing system architecture expertise.
The MTG program contract encompasses six spacecraft: four MTG-I imaging units and two MTG-S sounder units. The inaugural launch was Meteosat-12 (MTG-I1) on December 13, 2022; it entered operational service in December 2024. The first MTG-S satellite carrying Sentinel-4A was launched on July 1, 2025. Additional launches are planned through the mid-2030s to succeed the original satellites, which have nominal operational durations of approximately 8.5 years and fuel reserves sufficient for over 10.7 years.
References
- EUMETSAT
- Perfect day for weather satellite, BBC News, December 21, 2005
- Krige, John. "Crossing the Interface from R&D to Operational Use: The Case of the European Meteorological Satellite," Technology and Culture, Vol. 41, No. 1, January 2000, pp. 27–50.