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
Go to topicIn August 2002, the first Meteosat Second Generation (MSG ) Satellites was put into orbit by Ariane 5 from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou. This video focuses on the satellite and its improvements compared to the Meteosat satellites, of which seven have been launched since 1977. The video says MSG will generate multi-spectral imagery of the Earth's surface and cloud systems at double the rate (every 15 minutes instead of every half an hour) of the Meteosat satellites and provide vastly improved geometrical resolution. The onboard SEVIRI instrument is highlighted.