Weather – and particularly extreme weather – affects everything we do. Being able to view the whole disc of Earth allows forecasters to monitor developing weather systems. So in 1977 when the first Meteosat took its place in geostationary orbit, maintaining its position at 0 degrees longitude as Earth rotated below, this new weather satellite laid the foundations for the European and world cooperation in meteorology that continues today.

Europe’s first weather satellite, Meteosat-1, took its place in space on 23 November 1977. It was also ESA’s first Earth observation mission. The satellite not only provided information on cloud cover and weather fronts, but also infrared imagery showing temperatures and the distribution of water vapour in the atmosphere.

Forecasts are not only important for planning our day-to-day activities, but are also vital for numerous sectors such as transport, agriculture, commerce and industry. The economic and social benefits of accurate weather forecasts are huge; they allow time to prepare and make decisions, whether on gritting the roads, routing air or marine traffic, irrigating crops or planning construction. In the extreme, knowing that extreme weather is on the way can protect property and save lives. None of this would be possible without scientific knowledge of our planet and the data provided by satellites.

Satellite technologies allow us to observe Earth from a unique vantage point and make new observations possible that previous generations could only dream of. As we seek to understand more about how our planet is changing due to climate change, satellites are proving to be a powerful asset by acting as watchful eyes from above.

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Building the future of weather forecasting from space