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.