ESA title

The mission

Europe’s series of Meteosat satellites has been improving the accuracy of weather forecasts for over 40 years. The first Meteosat was launched in 1977 and also goes down in history as ESA’s first Earth observation mission. From geostationary orbit, the Meteosat satellites provide a continuous stream of images of the whole Earth disc, to monitor the weather over Europe, Africa and parts of the Atlantic and Indian Ocean. 

The launch

  • First launch: Meteosat-1 on 23 November 1977
  • Site: Cape Canaveral, US
  • Rocket: Delta 2000
Meteosat
Earth
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Earth from Space: Earth Day

22/04/2022 36147 views 70 likes
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Cloud-free Europe
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New observations for the new economy

08/03/2019 10345 views 89 likes
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Meteosat-1 launch
Agency

Forty years of Meteosat

22/11/2017 6286 views 112 likes
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Earth seen by Meteosat
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Shared vision strengthens Europe’s space strategy

08/11/2017 4483 views 45 likes
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MSG-4 in orbit
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ESA hands over control of the MSG-4 weather satellite

27/07/2015 5755 views 61 likes
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MSG-4 liftoff
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Europe’s MSG-4 weather satellite delivered into orbit

15/07/2015 13650 views 73 likes
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Ariane flight VA224 on the launchpad
Enabling & Support

MSG-4 launch timeline

14/07/2015 6762 views 36 likes
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Team training
Enabling & Support

ESA teams ready for Europe’s next weather satellite

09/07/2015 5858 views 44 likes
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Bardarbunga plume
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Bardarbunga belches

05/09/2014 13365 views 103 likes
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Meteosat Third Generation
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Contract signed for Meteosat Third Generation lightning ins…

07/02/2013 4182 views 23 likes
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MTG agreement signed at Ministerial meeting
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Meteosat Third Generation agreement signed at Ministerial m…

21/11/2012 4606 views 5 likes
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Earth and Moon
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Peek-a-blue Moon

03/09/2012 4320 views 17 likes
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MSG-3 first image
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MSG-3, Europe’s latest weather satellite, delivers first im…

07/08/2012 18221 views 16 likes
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MSG enters orbit
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ESA hands over weather satellite for operations

16/07/2012 1725 views 0 likes
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MSG-3 launch
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MSG-3 set to ensure quality of Europe’s weather service fro…

06/07/2012 2646 views 2 likes
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MSG-3 ready for encapsulation in fairing
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Watch online: MSG-3 launch

04/07/2012 1420 views 0 likes
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ESOC control room
Enabling & Support

ESA’s mission control ready for MSG-3 launch

03/07/2012 2552 views 0 likes
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MSG-3 preparations continue
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Launch date of MSG-3 reset to 5 July 2012

12/06/2012 1633 views 1 likes
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MSG-3 In the cleanroom
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MSG-3 satellite ready to continue weather-monitoring service

07/03/2012 1899 views 3 likes
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Meteosat Third Generation
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A new generation of meteorological satellites

24/02/2012 6620 views 2 likes
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MSG enters orbit
Enabling & Support

MSG ground controllers plug into satellite for live test

07/02/2012 1826 views 1 likes
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Applications

ESA keeps watch on weather

29/09/2011 991 views 0 likes
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NO2 over Europe monitored by GOME-2
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Astrium to build ESA's Sentinel-4 atmospheric sensors

11/07/2011 2414 views 3 likes
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Satellite observations show potential to improve ash cloud …

26/05/2011 2112 views 0 likes
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Predicted path of volcanic ash
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Satellites monitor Icelandic ash plume

23/05/2011 6609 views 2 likes
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MTG Industrial Days
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MTG Industrial Days offer new business opportunities

01/02/2011 1394 views 0 likes
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Meteosat Third Generation imager and sounder
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Development of Meteosat Third Generation to start

18/11/2010 7018 views 9 likes
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ESA Euronews: Tomorrow’s weather

16/04/2010 777 views 0 likes
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Meteosat Third Generation imager and sounder
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ESA and Thales Alenia Space enter negotiations for MTG

19/03/2010 3113 views 0 likes
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Meteosat Third Generation imager and sounder
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Meteosat Third Generation takes a step forward

22/02/2010 2347 views 0 likes
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Meteosat-6
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Weather satellite sets new service record

04/02/2010 1429 views 0 likes
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Dr Prahm and Dr Liebig at the Council meeting
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Meteosat Third Generation on track

07/12/2007 1300 views 0 likes
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Meteosat-1 first image
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ESA celebrates 30 years of Meteosat

22/11/2007 324 views 0 likes
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ESOC Main Control Room (MCR)
Enabling & Support

ESA to provide essential launch control services to EUMETSAT

06/11/2007 2341 views 0 likes
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Some of the first MSG-2 images
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First images from GERB

01/02/2006 1840 views 0 likes
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MSG-2 first colour image
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MSG-2 first images

26/01/2006 2451 views 5 likes
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MSG artist's view
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MSG-2 commissioning begins

03/01/2006 1936 views 2 likes
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Ariane 5 lift off
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Europe’s newest Meteosat launches on Solstice Night

21/12/2005 1830 views 0 likes
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MSG-2 launch diary

21/12/2005 985 views 0 likes
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Liftoff of Ariane 5G carrying MSG-2
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MSG-2 launched

21/12/2005 888 views 0 likes
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Launcher Ariane 5 ready for liftoff
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MSG-2 in position for tonight's launch

21/12/2005 869 views 0 likes
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A day of GERB observations
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MSG-2 will advance long-term monitoring of Earth's energy b…

20/12/2005 981 views 0 likes
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MSG-2 mission controllers
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ESOC gears up for MSG-2 launch

19/12/2005 729 views 0 likes
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MSG-2 dry weighing
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Meteosat Second Generation-2: watch the launch live

14/12/2005 1250 views 0 likes
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MSG-2 unwrapped
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Forecast good for launch of Europe's latest MSG weather sat…

21/11/2005 1035 views 0 likes
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MSG-2 installation on the trolley
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MSG-2 now planned for launch towards year's end

16/08/2005 691 views 0 likes
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MSG-2 controllers in simulation for LEOP. Flight Director John Dodsworth is in blue shirt at right.
Enabling & Support

MSG-2 flight controllers train for launch

29/06/2005 732 views 0 likes
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A year of European solar radiation
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Sunshine mapping from space means brighter solar energy fut…

29/06/2005 2251 views 1 likes
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Meteosat-8 imagery of West African dust storm
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New competition for young meteorologists

09/11/2004 374 views 0 likes
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The contract was signed today in Paris
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MSG-4 contract means sunny outlook for European weather for…

02/11/2004 1061 views 0 likes
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