MSG-3 satellite ready to continue weather-monitoring service
International partners are looking ahead to the newest member in a series of weather satellites that deliver images to European forecasters: MSG-3 is set for launch this summer. The Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) satellites are designed to improve weather prediction. Read more
Europe's next fleet of meteorological satellites is set to debut in 2017, following today's signing of the development contract. While Meteosat Third Generation will ensure full continuity with the current Meteosat satellite family, it will also introduce significant improvements. At an event held today at ESA's headquarters in Paris, the contract between ESA and Thales Alenia Space for developing the new Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) family of satellites was signed. Read more
The all clear has been given for Europe to press ahead with the 3.4bn-euro (£2.9bn) project to build a next-generation weather satellite system. Eumetsat, the international agency charged with looking after Europe's Meteosats, said on Friday that all participating nations had now agreed to the programme and its financing. Read more
A contract has been signed that will finally allow an industrial consortium to begin work on a new generation of Meteosat weather spacecraft for Europe. Six satellites will be built to give forecasters up-to-the-minute data on developing weather systems. Read more
Marking a significant milestone for Europe's next fleet of meteorological satellites, ESA has given the go-ahead to Thales Alenia Space in France to start work on developing the Meteosat Third Generation. Read more
A consortium led by Thales Alenia Space of France will enter into negotiations for a 1.3bn-euro (£1.2bn) contract to build Europe's next weather satellites. The TAS group was selected after a competitive process run by the European Space Agency (Esa). The Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) system will comprise six satellites, with the first spacecraft likely to be ready for launch in 2016. Read more
Since the launch of the first Meteosat in 1977, 33 years of imagery combined with increasing computer power have given meteorologists the tools to improve weather forecasting, with direct benefits for us. Numerical weather prediction is improving with data from operational satellites, like Meteosat Second Generation (MSG). Today, thousands of daily measurements are the basis for numerical forecasts, making use of the world's most powerful computers. The MSG satellites are expected to provide operational services at least until 2015. Read more
The choice of an industrial team to build the next generation of weather satellites - or Meteosats - for Europe has been delayed by three months. Read more