View source for Meteosat

{{Short description|Series of european weather satellites}}
{{summarize|to|EUMETSAT#Geostationary satellites|date=January 2015}}
[[Image:METEOSAT.gif|thumb|right|Meteosat First Generation satellite]]
The '''Meteosat''' series of [[satellite]]s are [[geostationary]] [[meteorological satellite]]s operated by [[EUMETSAT]] under the Meteosat Transition Programme (MTP) and the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) program.
The MTP program was established to ensure the operational continuity between the end of the successful Meteosat Operational Programme in 1995 and Meteosat Second Generation (MSG), which came into operation at the start of 2004 using improved satellites. The MSG program will provide service until the MTG (Meteosat Third Generation) program takes over.
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==First generation==
{| class="wikitable" style="float: right;"
|+Satellites in the first generation Meteosat series<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://directory.eoportal.org/web/eoportal/satellite-missions/m/meteosat-first-generation|title=Meteosat First Generation - eoPortal Directory - Satellite Missions}}</ref>
|-
! Satellite
! Launch date
! Mission end
|-
| [[Meteosat-1]]
| 23 November 1977
| Imager failed in November 1979; data collection ended in 1984
|-
| [[Meteosat-2]]
| 10 June 1981
| Moved to [[graveyard orbit]] in December 1991<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://sci.esa.int/documents/34439/36575/1567254065476-br200-part3.pdf |title=Meteosat |access-date=2021-07-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703112403/https://sci.esa.int/documents/34439/36575/1567254065476-br200-part3.pdf |archive-date=2021-07-03 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| [[Meteosat-3]] (''Meteosat-P2'')
| 15 June 1988
| Retired in 1995
|-
| [[Meteosat-4]] (''MOP-1'')
| 19 April 1989
| Deactivated in November 1996.
|-
| [[Meteosat-5]] (''MOP-2'')
| 02 March 1991
| Decommissioned and placed into graveyard orbit in February 2007
|-
| [[Meteosat-6]] (''MOP-3'')
| 20 November 1993
| Continued data transmission service until late 2010 or in early 2011
|-
| [[Meteosat-7]] (''MTP'')
| 03 September 1997
| Placed into graveyard orbit in April 2017<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.eumetsat.int/website/home/News/DAT_3430008.html |title=The final journey of Meteosat-7 — EUMETSAT |access-date=2019-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613032625/http://www.eumetsat.int/website/home/News/DAT_3430008.html |archive-date=2017-06-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|}
The first generation of Meteosat satellites, Meteosat-1 to Meteosat-7, provided continuous and reliable meteorological observations from space to a large user community. Meteosat-1 to -7 have all now retired.
When operational, the Meteosat First Generation provided images every half-hour in three spectral channels (Visible, Infrared) and [[Water vapor|Water Vapour]], via the [[Meteosat Visible and Infrared Imager]] (MVIRI) [[Measuring instrument|instrument]]. Until 1 February 2017, Meteosat-7 provided the primary imagery coverage over the Indian Ocean and provided a service relaying data from [[Argos (satellite system)|Argos]] Data Collection Platforms (DCP), such as buoys, in support of the Tsunami Warning System for the Indian Ocean. A range of processed meteorological products were also produced.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.eumetsat.int/website/home/Data/MeteosatServices/IndianOceanDataCoverage/index.html |title=Indian Ocean Data Coverage service |access-date=2018-11-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201131417/https://www.eumetsat.int/website/home/Data/MeteosatServices/IndianOceanDataCoverage/index.html |archive-date=2017-12-01 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The last disseminated Meteosat-7 image was on 31 March 2017. Moving Meteosat-7 to its ultimate resting place in a graveyard orbit commenced on 3 April 2017 and the spacecraft final command sent on 11 April 2017.
The satellites were manufactured by a consortium COSMOS, with [[Aérospatiale]] in its [[Cannes Mandelieu Space Centre]], as Prime, and included [[Matra]], [[Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm|MBB]], [[Alenia Aeronautica|Selenia Spazio]], [[Marconi Company]].
They are 2.1 metres in diameter and 3.195 metres long. Its initial mass in orbit is 282&nbsp;kg, and in orbit, the satellite spins at 100 [[Revolutions per minute|rpm]] around its main axis.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.eumetsat.int/website/home/Satellites/CurrentSatellites/Meteosat/MeteosatDesign/index.html#mfg |title=Meteosat First Generation Design |access-date=2016-03-18 |archive-date=2016-03-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318212900/http://www.eumetsat.int/website/home/Satellites/CurrentSatellites/Meteosat/MeteosatDesign/index.html#mfg |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Second Generation ("MSG")==
[[File:Meteosat Geostasjonær satellitt.jpg|thumb|Meteosat Second Generation]]
{| class="wikitable" style="float: right;"
|+Satellites in the second generation Meteosat series<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.eumetsat.int/meteosat-third-generation |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017152856/http://www.eumetsat.int/website/home/Satellites/CurrentSatellites/Meteosat/index.html |archive-date=2013-10-17 |title=Meteosat- EUMETSAT}}</ref>
|-
! Satellite
! Launch date
! Mission end
|-
| [[Meteosat-8]] (MSG-1)
| 28-08-2002 22:45 UTC
| Retired 1 July 2022
|-
| [[Meteosat-9]] (MSG-2)
| 22-12-2005 22:33 UTC
| Availability lifetime is until 2025
|-
| [[Meteosat-10]] (MSG-3)
| 05-07-2012 21:36 UTC
| Availability lifetime is until 2030
|-
| [[Meteosat-11]] (MSG-4)
| 15-07-2015 21:05 UTC
| Availability lifetime is until 2033
|}
The contract for the second generation was awarded to [[Aérospatiale]] in its [[Cannes Mandelieu Space Centre]] (now [[Thales Alenia Space]]), with main subcontractors as [[Matra]], [[Messerschmitt]], [[Alenia Spazio|Alenia]].
Meteosat Second Generation was designed in response to user requirements to serve the needs of [[Nowcasting (meteorology)|nowcasting]] applications and [[numerical weather prediction]]. In addition, the [[Geostationary Earth Radiation Budget|GERB]] instrument provides important data for climate monitoring and research.
The satellites are spin-stabilised like the previous generation, but with many design improvements. The more frequent and comprehensive data collected by MSG also aids the weather forecaster in the swift recognition and prediction of dangerous weather phenomena such as thunderstorms, fog, and explosive development of small, but intense, depressions, which can lead to devastating wind storms.
The MSG satellites are 3.2 m in diameter and 2.4 m high and spin anti-clockwise at 100 rpm<ref>[http://www.eumetsat.int/website/home/Satellites/CurrentSatellite/Meteosat/MeteosatDesign/index.html Meteosat Second Generation Design]{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> at an altitude of 36,000&nbsp;km.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.eumetsat.int/website/home/Satellites/LaunchesandOrbits/SatelliteOrbits/index.html |title=EUMETSAT Satellite Orbits |access-date=2016-03-18 |archive-date=2016-03-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309225349/http://www.eumetsat.int/website/home/Satellites/LaunchesandOrbits/SatelliteOrbits/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
On 29 January 2004 the first Meteosat Second Generation satellite MSG-1, renamed to [[Meteosat 8|Meteosat-8]] once operational, commenced routine operations. In addition to the main [[Electronic imager|optical payload]] SEVIRI (Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager), Meteosat-8 also carries the secondary payload GERB (Geostationary Earth Radiation Budget) instrument.
The launch of MSG-2 (renamed to Meteosat-9) took place on 21 December 2005. The launch of MSG-3 (renamed to Meteosat-10) took place on 5 July 2012.
[[File:EUMETSAT MSG control.jpg|thumb|left|The MSG control centre in Darmstadt]]
Meteosat-8 is stationed over the Indian Ocean, arriving at 41.5°E on 21 September 2016 and it took over as prime Indian Ocean Data Coverage (IODC) spacecraft on 1 February 2017 (replacing Meteosat-7). Meteosat-8 was retired from operational service on 1 July 2022 and finally decommissioned on 13 October 2022 after twenty years in orbit. The spacecraft was disposed of in compliance with ISO-24113 guidelines (although not designed with this in mind) having been raised 740km above the geostationary ring and spun down to 20rpm. The propulsion system was then passivated and the satellite deactivated.
Meteosat-9 is also stationed over the Indian Ocean, arriving at 45.5°E on 20 April 2022 and it took over as prime IODC spacecraft on 1 June 2022 (replacing Meteosat-8).
Meteosat-10 and -11 are located over Africa with various differences in operational configuration. Since 20 March 2018, Meteosat-10 provides an operational European 'rapid scan' mode service (the MSG RSS service first commenced in May 2008), with images of Europe every 5 minutes. Since 20 February 2018, Meteosat-11 provides the main full Earth imagery service over Europe and Africa (with images every 15-minutes).<ref>{{cite web |title=Meteosat series |date=15 April 2020 |url=https://www.eumetsat.int/our-satellites/meteosat-series |publisher=EUMETSAT |access-date=2 June 2022}}</ref>
MSG-4 was successfully launched into space on 15 July 2015 at 18:42 local time on top an [[Ariane 5]] Rocket from the [[Guiana Space Centre]] in Kourou, French Guiana. Like MSG-1, MSG-2 and MSG-3, MSG-4 was launched by [[Arianespace]]. The MSG-4 commissioning was successfully completed in December 2015 at which time the spacecraft was placed into in-orbit storage as planned, and renamed to Meteosat-11.
===Secondary Payloads===
Meteosat-8, -9, -10, and -11 each carry a GERB Instrument, DCP capable service equipment and a Search and Rescue signal Processor (SARP) that is capable of detecting 406&nbsp;MHz [[distress signals]] from [[emergency position-indicating radiobeacon station]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cospas-sarsat.org/en/operatons/space-segment-status/sar-payloads|title=Current Space Segment Status and SAR Payloads|access-date=2012-12-03|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121130174455/http://www.cospas-sarsat.org/en/operatons/space-segment-status/sar-payloads|archive-date=2012-11-30}}</ref> For SARP, see more under [[Cospas-Sarsat]].
==Third Generation ("MTG")==
[[File:Meteosat Third Generation weather satellites ESA24390147.jpeg|thumb|Artist's rendering of Meteosat Third Generation]]
{| class="wikitable" style="float: right;"
|+Satellites in the third generation Meteosat series<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.eumetsat.int/meteosat-third-generation |title=Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) - EUMETSAT|date=22 May 2020 }}</ref>
|-
! Satellite
! Launch date
! Mission end
|-
| [[Meteosat-12]] (MTG-I1)
| 13-12-2022 20:30 UTC
| TBD
|}
Considering the long development cycle for a new observational space system, [[EUMETSAT]] has been working on the definition and the planning for a Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) system since the year 2000. MTG components providing continuity of MSG services need to be available before the end of the nominal lifetime of MSG. MTG preparatory activities started end of 2000 in cooperation with the European Space Agency (ESA), following the decision of the EUMETSAT Council to proceed with a Post-MSG User Consultation Process. The process is aimed at capturing the foreseeable needs of users of EUMETSAT's satellite data in the 2015-2025 timeframe.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.eumetsat.int/website/home/Satellites/FutureSatellites/MeteosatThirdGeneration/index.html |title=Meteosat Third Generation |access-date=2016-03-18 |archive-date=2016-03-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322075220/http://www.eumetsat.int/website/home/Satellites/FutureSatellites/MeteosatThirdGeneration/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
On 19 March 2010, ESA chose [[Thales Alenia Space]] for a final negotiation leading to a contract to be signed during June.<ref>ESA and Thales Alenia Space enter negotiations for MTG, ESA Press release, March 19, 2010, [http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMXKUCKP6G_index_0.html online www.esa.int]</ref>
On 22 June 2010, EUMETSAT confirmed the choice of Thales Alenia Space.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.eumetsat.int/website/home/News/DAT_2044868.html |title=EUMETSAT 70th council puts MTG on tracks |access-date=2016-03-18 |archive-date=2016-03-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326093535/http://www.eumetsat.int/website/home/News/DAT_2044868.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
On 24 February 2012, the development contract between [[European Space Agency|ESA]] and [[Thales Alenia Space]] was signed by Mr. Liebig and Mr. Seznec. Thales Alenia Space leads the industrial consortium that is now building the MTG family. Along with being the prime contractor, Thales Alenia Space is responsible for the MTG-I imaging satellite, including the primary payload, the Flexible Combined Imager. Bremen-based [[OHB-System|OHB]] is responsible for the MTG-S satellites and provision of the common satellite platforms, supported by [[EADS Astrium|Astrium GmbH]] as the [[Systems architect|System Architect]].
A total of 6 satellites are being developed under the MTG contract. Four MTG-I imaging satellites, as well as two MTG-S sounder satellites. The launch of the first MTG satellite, Meteosat-12 (MTG-I1), occurred on 13 December 2022, at 20:30 UTC.<ref name="ariane-20221125">{{cite tweet |author=[[Arianespace]] |user=Arianespace |number=1596096579718770689 |title=[5/5] 🗓️ The new targeted launch date for #VV22 now is December 20; 🗓️ The new targeted launch date for #VA259 –initially scheduled for December 14- now is December 13. |date=25 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dlr.de/rd/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-4926/8178_read-5116/ |title=Ariane-5-Missionen |trans-title=Ariane-5 Missions |access-date=20 October 2022 |work=[[German Aerospace Center|DLR]] |language=german}}</ref>
== References ==
* [http://www.eumetsat.int/ EUMETSAT]
* {{cite news
|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4548562.stm
|title = Perfect day for weather satellite
|work = BBC News
|access-date = February 6, 2006
| date=December 21, 2005
}}
* Krige, John. "Crossing the Interface from R&D to Operational Use: The Case of the European Meteorological Satellite," Technology and Culture, Volume 41, Number 1, January 2000, pp.&nbsp;27–50.
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
{{commons|EUMETSAT}}
* [https://www.eumetsat.int/our-satellites/meteosat-series Meteosat Series of Satellites]
* [https://www.wmo-sat.info/oscar/spaceagencies/view/18 WMO OSCAR | Space Agency: EUMETSAT]
* [http://en.allmetsat.com/ Compare Meteosat images with other meteorological satellites]
{{European Space Agency}}
[[Category:Earth observation satellites of the European Space Agency]]
[[Category:Weather satellites]]
[[Category:Ariane commercial payloads]]
[[Category:European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites]]
[[Category:Satellites in geosynchronous orbit]]
[[Category:Data collection satellites]]