Launch success for MTG-I1
MTG will help protect lives, property and infrastructure
After a perfect launch from the European Space Centre in Kourou, Meteosat Third Generation-Imager 1 (MTG-I1) has embarked safely on its new life in space.
09 January 2023
13 December 2022
EUMETSAT Director-General Phil Evans said the successful launch of MTG-I1 was a critical milestone for the organisation, bringing one step closer the goal of delivering essential data from the satellite’s instruments to meteorologists.
“Let’s recognise the fundamental importance of that goal,” Evans said. “The MTG system will help meteorologists meet one of their main challenges – the timely forecasting of severe weather events – to enable citizens, civil authorities and first responders to take appropriate action.
“MTG will help protect lives, property and infrastructure and bring economic benefits to Europe and Africa.
“I want to acknowledge the commitment of teams at EUMETSAT, the European Space Agency (ESA) and our industrial partners, who have worked on MTG for two decades now to bring us to this point.
“Now, we are working with Telespazio, which is responsible for guiding the satellite to is geostationary orbit, 36,000km above the Equator.”
Evans said the successful launch represents the start of the next exciting chapter in EUMETSAT’s Meteosat story.
“Over the next 12 months, the satellite’s instruments will be carefully calibrated and their data validated,” he said.
“Then, EUMETSAT will begin disseminating the operational data to our member states, and beyond.
“MTG-I1 will produce more precise data, faster, than the Meteosat Second Generation satellites have been able to. With the Lightning Imager on board, it will produce new data of great importance for community and aviation safety.
“This really is the start of a new era in weather forecasting.”
Image credit: ESA, CNES, Arianespace
