For the past 23 years, Europe’s Meteosat satellites have been sending pictures of the weather back to Earth for viewing by millions on daily TV weather bulletins. Their position in geostationary orbit at 0 degrees longitude has given them an unprecedented view of the weather over Europe, Africa and the eastern Atlantic. The images have contributed to an enormous improvement in the accuracy of medium-range weather forecasts over these regions.
Meteosat can lay claim to a number of firsts. Initiated in 1972 by ESA’s predecessor, the European Space Research Organisation, it was the Agency’s first applications programme. Meteosat-1, launched in 1977, was Europe’s first meteorological satellite and Meteosat-2 was launched in 1981 on one of the qualification flights of Ariane-1 from Kourou, French Guiana. Meteosat-3, the last of the pre-operational satellites, was launched in 1988.
ESA’s role changed from one of development and programme definition to satellite procurement and housekeeping on behalf of EUMETSAT.
Meteosat-7, the last satellite in the series was launched in 1997. It is part of a Meteosat Transition Programme (MTP) which will manage the handover between the first and second generation of satellites. Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) will be an upgraded series of satellites employing state of the art technology, which will continue the fine tradition of the first series, but with improved data gathering capabilities.
