The third Meteosat Second Generation weather satellite, MSG-3, was launched on X July 2012 from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou. To mark the occasion of launch, an event was held at the premises of the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, Eumetsat, in Germany. ESA has developed the series of weather satellites in close cooperation with the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, Eumetsat. The launch of MSG-3 ensures the continuity of meteorological observations to improve weather forecasts from geostationary orbit 36 000 km above Earth.