Launch	21 December 2005 from Kourou, French Guiana
Launcher	Ariane 5 Generic
Launch mass	2035 Kg
Dimensions	2.4 m high, 3.2 m diameter
Life time	7 years station-keeping

 
 

Characteristics 600 W power demand; Bi-Propellant propulsion system Orbit Geostationary; altitude approximately 35 800 km Inclination 0 degrees Time for one orbit 24 hours Cycle Not applicable Number of instruments 4 including Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager and Search and Rescue Transponder Costs Total program including launchers, ground segment and operation of the satellites over 12 years:   1.3 billion Euro financed by EUMETSAT   Development and building the MSG-1 satellite cost 475 million Euro:   financed for 2/3 by ESA and for 1/3 by EUMETSAT

 
MSG advantages

Image resolution	Improved horizontal image resolution for the visible light spectral channel (1 km as opposed to 2.5 km on the current Meteosat)
Data transmission	All-digital transmission of MSG data; the data transmission is almost 20 times faster (up to 3,2 Mbps) than on current Meteosat
Life time	Nominal life in orbit of seven years (two more years than Meteosat)

 
 
Main contributors
Prime contractor Alcatel Space Industries, Cannes, France
SEVIRI: Astrium SAS
Meteorological Communications Payload: Alenia Spazio
Plattform: Astrium GmbH
GERB: Rutherford Appleton Laboratories
 
 
Last update: 28 November 2005