13 March 2026
05 March 2026
Before diving into EUMETSAT’s history on this page, it’s worth taking a moment to set the scene for how the organisation came to life.
Early European efforts in satellite meteorology began in the late 1960s, pioneered by national weather services and the European Space Research Organisation (ESRO).
Their work laid the foundations for cooperative European space science and Earth observation programmes, and in 1975, ESRO merged with the European Launcher Development Organisation (ELDO) to form the European Space Agency (ESA).
European research into the use of satellites for operational weather forecasting led ESRO to adopt Meteosat as Europe’s first meteorological satellite programme in 1972. Its mission was to provide forecasters with near real‑time, full‑disc views of Earth from geostationary orbit.
The first prototype, Meteosat‑1, was launched by ESA in November 1977 and proved the viability and value of weather satellites for operational services.
Throughout the 1970s, European meteorological services lobbied for a sustained and coordinated European system to provide satellite data to improve short‑range forecasting. European ministers concluded that the long-term delivery of operational weather data and services required a dedicated organisation to work alongside ESA.
EUMETSAT begins
The momentum behind this idea continued to grow through the 1980s and led to the foundation of EUMETSAT in 1986.
From an initial team of four, EUMETSAT has grown significantly as the scope of our activities has expanded. Today, more than one thousand people work on site and are our greatest asset. On our growing campus in Darmstadt, we bring together a highly skilled multinational workforce.
EUMETSAT has always embraced change – on the ground as well as in space.
Today, we are harnessing new technologies and digital transformation initiatives to empower our workforce. Innovation is the key for both individuals and our organisation to thrive in the future.
Click through the interactive milestones below to see EUMETSAT’s most important highlights.
