The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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The vacuum chamber at the CLS Liège Space Center in Belgium ready to receive the Meteosat Third Generation Infrared Sounder instrument.
The Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) mission guarantees the continuity of data for weather forecasting from geostationary orbit for the next two decades. The full MTG system is based on a series of two types of satellite: four MTG-Imagers and two MTG-Sounders. The first satellite, MTG-I1, was launched on 13 December 2022. The first MTG-S will follow.
The MTG-S satellite accommodates the Infrared Sounder instrument, as well as the Copernicus Sentinel-4 mission. The Infrared Sounder will be the first hyperspectral sounding instrument in geostationary orbit. It comprises a complex imaging spectrometer that can detect the distribution, circulation and temperature of water vapour in the atmosphere.
The photograph here shows the huge vacuum chamber where the Infrared Sounder underwent a three-month testing programme in 2023 that confirmed that it will work in-line with expectations.