MTG-S goes vertical

Following its arrival at Cape Canaveral harbour in Florida, US, the Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) Sounder satellite has been transported safely to the cleanroom at AstroTech facilities.

It has undergone a series of tests and manoeuvres, which were performed to enable the mechanisms of the mission’s Infrared Sounder instrument to be locked and prepared for launch in July 2025. The photograph shows MTG-S being put into a vertical position.

Once in orbit and commissioned, the MTG-Sounder satellites will introduce a groundbreaking infrared sounding capability, enhancing weather prediction accuracy. As Europe’s first-ever infrared sounder in geostationary orbit, the instrument will use interferometric techniques to capture data on temperature, humidity, wind and trace gases in the atmosphere, creating three-dimensional maps of the atmosphere, and revisiting Europe every 30 minutes.