Meteosat series
Geostationary satellites providing imagery for the early detection of fast-developing severe weather, weather forecasting and climate monitoring
Meteosat satellites have been providing crucial data for weather forecasting since 1977.
Last Updated
13 June 2023
Published on
15 April 2020
EUMETSAT currently operates Meteosat-9, -10 and -11 in geostationary orbit (36,000km) over Europe and Africa, and the Indian Ocean.
The Meteosat satellites are operated as a two-satellite system providing detailed full disc imagery over Europe and Africa every 15 minutes and rapid scan imagery over Europe, every five minutes.
Meteosat imagery is crucial for nowcasting, which is about detecting rapidly developing high impact weather and predicting its evolution a few hours ahead, in support of the safety of life and property.
Observations are also used for weather forecasting (as input to numerical weather prediction models), and for climate monitoring.
Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) - A new era in weather and climate monitoring
Meteosat's valuable contribution will continue into the 2040s with the advent of Meteosat Third Generation (MTG).
The MTG system is one of the most innovative weather satellite systems ever built. When it is fully deployed, it will include two identical imaging satellites (MTG-I) with new and enhanced capabilities (FCI and LI), and for the first time over Europe, a sounding satellite (MTG-S) carrying an infrared sounder and the Copernicus Sentinel-4 Ultraviolet Visible and Near-infrared instrument.
Facts and figures
Current Satellites
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Meteosat-11
- Lifetime:
- 15/07/2015 – 2033
- Position:
- 9.5°E 36,000 km
- Services:
- Rapid Scanning Service, replaced Meteosat-10 RSS on 21 March 2021, and web imagery
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Meteosat-10
- Lifetime:
- 05/07/2012 – 2030
- Position:
- 0° 36,000 km
- Services:
- 0 degree service including Meteosat data collection service and web imagery. Replaced Meteosat-11 on 22 March 2021
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Meteosat-9
- Lifetime:
- 22/12/2005–2025
- Position:
- 45.5° E 36,000 km
- Services:
- IODC satellite from 1 June 2022, replacing Meteosat-8 and web imagery
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Future Satellites
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MTG-I1
- Launch date:
- 13/12/2022. Start of 12-month commissioning period
- Details:
- Imaging (FCI, LI, DCS, GEOSAR)
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MTG-S1
- Planned launch date:
- Q4 2024 - Q2 2025
- Details:
- Sounding (IRS, UVN)
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MTG-I2
- Planned launch date:
- Q2 - Q3 2026
- Details:
- Imaging (FCI, LI)
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MTG-I3
- Planned launch date:
- Around 10 years after MTG-I1
- Details:
- Imaging (FCI, LI)
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MTG-S2
- Planned launch date:
- Around 10 years after MTG-S1
- Details:
- Sounding (IRS, UVN)
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MTG-I4
- Planned launch date:
- Around 10 years after MTG-I3
- Details:
- Imaging (FCI, LI)
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Retired Satellites
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Meteosat-8
- Launch date:
- 28/08/2002
- Prime date:
- 1/02/2017
- Retirement date:
- 1/07/2022
- Details:
- 0 degree coverage, IODC (31/03/2017-1/06/2022)
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Meteosat-7
- Launch date:
- 02/09/1997
- Prime date:
- 03/06/1998
- Retirement date:
- 31/03/2017
- Details:
- 0 degree coverage, IODC (01/11/2006–31/03/2017)
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Meteosat-6
- Launch date:
- 19/11/1993
- Prime date:
- 21/10/1996
- Retirement date:
- 15/04/2011
- Details:
- 0 degree coverage, RSS (22/05/2000–08/01/2007)
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Meteosat-5
- Launch date:
- 02/03/1991
- Prime date:
- 02/05/1991
- Retirement date:
- 16/04/2007
- Details:
- 0 degree coverage, IODC (01/07/1998–16/04/2007)
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Meteosat-4
- Launch date:
- 06/03/1989
- Prime date:
- 19/06/1989
- Retirement date:
- 08/11/1995
- Details:
- 0 degree coverage
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Meteosat-3
- Launch date:
- 15/06/1988
- Prime date:
- 11/08/1988
- Retirement date:
- 31/05/1995
- Details:
- 0 degree coverage, ADC (01/08/1991–27/01/1993), XADC (21/02/1993–31/05/1995)
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Meteosat-2
- Launch date:
- 19/06/1981
- Prime date:
- 16/08/1981
- Retirement date:
- 11/08/1988
- Details:
- 0 degree coverage
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Meteosat-1
- Launch date:
- 23/11/1977
- Prime date:
- 09/12/1977
- Retirement date:
- 25/11/1979
- Details:
- 0 degree coverage
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