Arianespace has announced that the launch date of the MSG-3 satellite from the European Spaceport in Kourou, originally foreseen for 19 June, has been reset to the evening of the 5 July 2012.

Additional measures required to ensure the availability of safe drop zones for parts of the launcher after lift off.

EUMETSAT is preparing to ship its third Meteosat Second Generation (MSG-3) satellite to French Guiana on 13 April for a 19 June 2012 launch from Kourou, the European Space Port, to ensure continuity of real-time weather monitoring from geostationary orbit 36,000 km from Earth.

The second Continuous Development and Operations Phase (CDOP-2) for EUMETSAT’s Satellite Application Facility (SAF) network which began this month will improve and expand the portfolio of SAF products and services over the next five years

Following a management meeting with Arianespace, the launch date of the Metop-B polar-orbiting satellite has been set for 23 May 2012

The special EUMETSAT Council meeting on 30-31 January recorded progress in the approval process for the EUMETSAT Polar System Second Generation (EPS-SG) Preparatory Programme, with the sum of contributions increasing from nearly 55 per cent to 83 per cent and 18 of the 27 EUMETSAT Member States having firmly committed themselves to the programme.

At the end of December 2011, Lithuania signed the accession agreement to become a full Member State of EUMETSAT by 1 January 2014, subject to ratification by the Lithuanian parliament.

The Republic of Estonia today signed the accession agreement to become a full Member State of EUMETSAT

EUMETSAT, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, held its 74th Council meeting in Darmstadt, Germany, on 29 November