After separation from the launcher and its injection into transfer orbit by Arianespace, MSG-2 was taken over by the European Space Agency’s Operations Control Centre (ESA/ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany, and started for EUMETSAT the Launch and Early Operations Phase (LEOP). In this phase the satellite will be manoeuvred into its final geosynchronous orbit at 36,000 km above the Earth, correctly aligned with the Earth axis and its spin rate stabilised to 100 revolutions per minute. MSG-2 will be commissioned by EUMETSAT form its Mission Control Centre at 6.5° West longitude and moved to 0° when it becomes operational.

Like all the four satellites in the MSG series, MSG-2 is 3.8 m high, 3.2 m wide and weighs 2,035 kilograms. It has 12 spectral channels and will provide an image every 15 minutes in the visible, infrared and water vapour bands. MSG-2 will the be followed by MSG-3 and MSG-4. MSG-3 has been integrated and tested, it is now in storage, while MSG-4 is in production. The Meteosat Second Generation system is planned to be operated until at least the year 2018.

Following the launch, EUMETSAT’s Director General, Dr. Lars Prahm, thanked Arianespace for the successful launch and the project teams for their outstanding work. He also paid tribute to European space industries for their contribution in designing and constructing the satellite. Special acknowledgements were given to ESA, for the excellent support provided with regards to the procurement of the satellite.

The Meteosat Second Generation satellites disseminate improved information and imagery for weather forecasting as well as other applications such as hydrology, agriculture and environmental/climate studies. The data collected are routinely used for the study of weather and climate change and have proven to be vital in the context of severe weather situations where they help to reduce losses of human life and property.

To view the launch, please click here.

EUMETSAT
The European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, is an intergovernmental organisation that establishes and maintains operational meteorological satellites for 18 European States (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom). EUMETSAT has signed 12 Cooperating State Agreements. Those with Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Czech Republic have entered into force whereas the Agreement with Serbia and Montenegro and Iceland are to be ratified in the near future.

EUMETSAT is currently operating Meteosat-6, -7 and -8 over Europe and Africa, and Meteosat-5 over the Indian Ocean.
The data, product and services from EUMETSAT’s satellites make a significant contribution to weather forecasting and to the monitoring of the global climate.

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