Toward MTG - METEOSAT THIRD GENERATION

The Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) system is the primary European source of geostationary observations over Europe and Africa. MSG is one of the key EUMETSAT contributions to the Global Observing System (GOS) of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). The series of four MSG satellites will deliver observations and services until 2018 with the high level of availability expected from an operational system.

Considering the long development cycle for a new observational space system, the definition and the planning for a Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) system is underway. MTG components providing continuity of MSG services need to be available around 2015, 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.

Prioritised high level user-driven needs are taken as inputs for MTG definition studies (pre-phase A) jointly planned by ESA and EUMETSAT, the ultimate objective being to establish MTG Mission Requirements. More than 50 leading experts in a variety of disciplines are involved, representing operational and research organisations from Europe, the United States and other international partners, as well as WMO.

The first major output is a documented set of traceable high-level user needs and priorities endorsed by EUMETSAT Delegate Bodies. Their definition is driven by the EUMETSAT Customers’ long-term strategic objectives, namely the most business-critical improvements to meteorological and environmental services to be achieved in the 2015-2025 timeframe. The main customers include National Meteorological Services and other operational organisations from EUMETSAT Member States, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and EUMETNET.

The second major output is the identification of candidate observing techniques and preliminary assessment of their capabilities and suitability to satisfy the user needs. This is achieved as a result of a dialogue between users and remote sensing and satellite experts involved in the user consultation process.

Users that were involved in the MTG Pre-phase A activities will continue to be involved in the definition of the MTG mission and system through phase A.

Further activities toward the definition, development and implementation of the MTG system are planned according to the MTG Reference Planning. This planning is consistent with the 2015 need date for the first MTG satellite.