EUMETSAT Geostationary Meteorological Satellite Programs

Abstract

EUMETSAT, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, operates a range of satellite programs, among them the Meteosat series of geostationary satellites which has provided continuity of coverage over Europe and Africa since 1977. Its current operational geostationary services are provided by the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG), consisting of the primary satellite, the Meteosat-9, the back-up and Rapid Scanning Service Meteosat-8, as well as the older generation Meteosat-7 satellite positioned over the Indian Ocean. It works closely in partnership with the European Space Agency and with NOAA in its programs. As a user-driven organization it places great emphasis on developing additional value from its products by sophisticated systems for processing of the satellite data, centrally at its headquarters in Darmstadt, and through a distributed network of Satellite Applications Facilities in its Member States. A successor program to the MSG, the Meteosat Third Generation, has been approved and will ensure coverage out to 2040.