Meteosat Second Generation
| Company type | Satellite program |
|---|---|
| Industry | Meteorology, Earth observation, Space technology |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Founder | EUMETSAT |
Area served | Europe, Africa, Indian Ocean region |
Key people | EUMETSAT (operator) |
| Products | Meteorological satellite data and imagery |
| Parent | EUMETSAT |
The Meteosat satellite fleet consists of geostationary meteorological satellites managed by EUMETSAT through the Meteosat Transition Programme (MTP) and the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) initiative.
The MTP ensured uninterrupted operations following the conclusion of the Meteosat Operational Programme in 1995 until the MSG satellites were introduced in 2004, offering enhanced capabilities. The MSG series will continue to provide services until the launch of 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 malfunctioned November 1979; data collection ceased 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 | Data transmission continued until late 2010 or early 2011 |
| Meteosat-7 (MTP/MOP-3) | 03 September 1997 | Ariane-44LP H10-3 | Kourou, ELA-2 | Transferred to graveyard orbit April 2017 |
The initial series, from Meteosat-1 through Meteosat-7, delivered uninterrupted meteorological data to a wide range of users and have all since been retired.
These satellites provided 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 monitored the Indian Ocean region and transmitted information from Argos Data Collection Platforms aiding the Tsunami Warning System. The last image from Meteosat-7 was distributed on March 31, 2017, with its deactivation completed by April.
Constructed by a COSMOS consortium led by Aérospatiale at Cannes Mandelieu Space Centre, including partners such as 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 initial orbital mass was around 282 kg, with a spin rate of approximately 100 revolutions per minute around their principal 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 until at least 2025 |
| Meteosat-10 (MSG-3) | 5 July 2012, 21:36 UTC | Ariane 5ECA | Kourou, ELA-3 | Expected service through to around 2030 |
| Meteosat-11 (MSG-4) | 15 July 2015, 21:05 UTC | Ariane 5ECA | Kourou, ELA-3 | Projected availability until approximately 2033 |
The second generation of Meteosat satellites was developed to address increasing requirements for nowcasting and numerical weather forecasting. The GERB instrument onboard contributes essential climate monitoring data. MSG satellites have dimensions of roughly 3.2 meters in diameter and stand about 2.4 meters tall while rotating at a rate of approximately 100 rpm in a geostationary orbit at an altitude near 36,000 km.
The manufacturing contract was awarded to Aérospatiale at their Cannes Mandelieu Space Centre facility (currently Thales Alenia Space), with major subcontractors including Matra, Messerschmitt, and Alenia Spazio. These spin-stabilised spacecraft incorporate substantial design improvements enabling more frequent and higher-resolution data acquisition, enhancing severe weather event forecasting such as for thunderstorms and intense low-pressure systems.
MSG-1 (later renamed Meteosat-8) commenced routine operations on January 29, 2004, equipped with its primary SEVIRI optical imager alongside the GERB instrument. MSG-2 (Meteosat-9) launched on December 21, 2005; MSG-3 (Meteosat-10) followed on July 5, 2012.
In September 2016, Meteosat-8 was stationed over the Indian Ocean at longitude 41.5°E and assumed the role of primary Indian Ocean Data Coverage (IODC) satellite in February 2017, succeeding Meteosat-7. After two decades in orbit, it was retired on July 1, 2022 and decommissioned by October following ISO-24113 guidelines for debris mitigation via orbit raising and passivation.
In June 2022, Meteosat-9 took over as lead IODC satellite at longitude 45.5°E. Meanwhile, Meteosat-10 and -11 operate above Africa with distinct configurations; since March 2018, Meteosat-10 has provided rapid scan imagery over Europe every five minutes while Meteosat-11 delivers full-disk images encompassing Europe and Africa every fifteen minutes.
MSG-4 was launched on July 15, 2015 aboard an Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou and completed commissioning by December that year. It was then placed into planned in-orbit storage status and renamed Meteosat-11.
Additional Payloads
Each of the Meteosat-8, -9, -10, and -11 satellites is equipped with a GERB Instrument, devices supporting DCP services, and a Search and Rescue signal Processor (SARP) designed to identify 406 MHz distress signals emitted by emergency position-indicating radiobeacon stations. For further information on SARP, refer to 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) | Expected in 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) | Targeted for 2036 | Ariane 64 | Kourou, ELA-4 | TBD |
Since the year 2000, EUMETSAT has been advancing the Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) program to maintain MSG service capabilities beyond their expected operational duration. Initial groundwork was conducted in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA), guided by user feedback focused on requirements between 2015 and 2025.
On March 19, 2010, ESA appointed Thales Alenia Space as the prime contractor for MTG development—a decision later endorsed by EUMETSAT on June 22, 2010. The formal development agreement was finalized on February 24, 2012. Thales Alenia Space heads the industrial team and oversees the MTG-I imaging satellites along with their main instrument, the Flexible Combined Imager. The MTG-S sounder satellites and shared platforms are managed by Bremen-based OHB-System, with support from EADS Astrium, which serves as system architect.
The MTG program contract encompasses six satellites: four dedicated to imaging (MTG-I) and two designed for sounding (MTG-S). The inaugural MTG satellite, Meteosat-12 (MTG-I1), launched on December 13, 2022, and commenced operations in December 2024. The first MTG-S satellite carrying the Sentinel-4A instrument was launched on July 1, 2025. Future launches include MTG-I2 anticipated in 2026, followed by replacements approximately every ten years to succeed satellites designed with nominal lifetimes of around 8.5 years and fuel reserves exceeding 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.