A new era of weather forecasting begins

Constructing on the long-standing partnership between ESA and the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (Eumetsat), the Meteosat Third Era Imager-1 (MTG-I1) is the primary of a brand new era of satellites offering essential observations for the early detection and prediction of fast-developing extreme storms, climate forecasting and local weather monitoring.

This third era of climate satellites won’t solely assure the continuity of information for climate forecasting from geostationary orbit for the subsequent twenty years, but additionally affords important enhancement of the present imager capabilities and close to realtime lightning imaging – a brand new functionality for European climate satellites.

Paul Blythe, ESA’s Meteosat Programme Supervisor, commented, “After over a decade of shut cooperation and laborious work of all concerned, to see the primary of the MTG-I satellites take to the skies is a profound expertise for me. Due to all who’ve made this attainable together with our associates within the industrial groups all through Europe ably led by Thales Alenia Area France, my ESA group who’ve supported me all through, lots of whom have been with me because the begin of this journey and Eumetsat our companions and finally house owners of the MTG satellites.

“Most lately an enormous thank you need to go to Arianespace and people at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana for what has been a flawless launch marketing campaign which has culminated on this lovely launch.”

ESA’s Director of Earth Remark Programmes, Simonetta Cheli, stated, “I’m extraordinarily proud to see a brand new period of satellite tv for pc meteorology start. I wish to personally thank the groups concerned who’ve devoted their time, expertise and tenacity to make this a hit. We might not be right here with out you.

“MTG was developed because of the experience of ESA, Eumetsat and a extremely aggressive European area trade. With the satellite tv for pc’s modern design and its novel ‘lightning catcher’, MTG will push European climate forecasting into the longer term. I’m very a lot wanting ahead to the subsequent many years of working with our European companions, particularly the ESA Member States collaborating within the MTG programme whose contribution will guarantee Europe stays a world chief in satellite tv for pc meteorology, in addition to Eumetsat, and all our companions concerned. Our cooperation demonstrates the really world spirit of Earth commentary.”

“Meteosat Third Era is a European success story. The aim of this multi-billion-euro funding is to offer meteorological providers with a vastly elevated quantity of extra exact data which is able to assist them shield lives, property and infrastructure. This technique will, actually, save lives,” added Phil Evans, Director Basic at Eumetsat.

MTG-I1’s journey to area

Thirty-five minutes after launch, MTG-I1 separated from the Ariane 5 at an altitude of 250 km beginning the automated post-separation sequence together with photo voltaic array deployment and orientation in the direction of the Solar guaranteeing the security of the satellite tv for pc. In its preliminary few orbits round Earth, the group switched on the satellite tv for pc to open its photo voltaic arrays, and turned them to face the Solar.

From there, the group will enhance the satellite tv for pc from the preliminary geostationary switch orbit, which is very elliptical, to the round geostationary orbit via a sequence of burns from the principle apogee engine. This section lasts round 5 days from the place it will likely be positioned near its remaining operational location at zero levels longitude straight over Ivory Coast.

MTG-I1 and its two rideshare companions – Intelsat’s Galaxy 35 and Galaxy 36 telecommunications satellites – made up a complete payload mass near 11 tonnes, together with the adapter that stacked them up for the trip to area. That may be very almost the mass report for an Ariane 5 launch to geostationary switch orbit.

A brand new period of satellite tv for pc meteorology

MTG-I1 is the primary of six satellites that type the full MTG system, which is able to present vital knowledge for short-term and early detection of potential excessive climate occasions over the subsequent 20 years. In full operations, the mission will comprise two MTG-I satellites and one MTG Sounding (MTG-S) satellite tv for pc working in tandem.

The MTG-I satellites carry two fully new devices, a Versatile Mixed Imager and Europe’s first Lightning Imager, to ship high-quality knowledge for higher short-term climate forecasting.

The modern Lightning Imager will be capable to seize particular person lightning occasions within the sky, whether or not day or night time. That is the primary time a geostationary climate satellite tv for pc has the potential to detect lightning throughout Europe, Africa and the encircling waters. It can repeatedly monitor greater than 80% of the Earth disc for lightning discharges, happening both between clouds or between clouds and the bottom.

The Flexible Combined Imager will utilise two scanning providers to construct an image of fast-evolving occasions. By its full disc scanning service, the imager will scan all the Earth disc in simply 10 minutes. By the speedy scanning service, the imager will scan Europe and northern Africa each 2.5 minutes.

Knowledge acquired throughout 16 totally different spectral bands present exact details about all the pieces from clouds to water vapour, to oceans, to native fires. Photographs will allow earlier prediction of extreme climate occasions, enhancements to forecasts and enhancements of important meteorological methods and environmental occasions.

The MTG-I satellites additionally carry two smaller payloads for knowledge assortment from distant science beacons and for search and rescue by detecting emergency beacons. These all-new devices will permit extreme storms to be detected of their early phases and can due to this fact be key for issuing well timed warnings.

The MTG mission is a cooperation between Eumetsat and ESA. ESA is accountable growing and procuring the six MTG satellites. Eumetsat defines the system necessities, develops the bottom methods, procures the launch providers, operates the satellites, and makes the info obtainable to customers.

The MTG satellites are constructed by a big consortium of European industries, led by Thales Alenia Area in cooperation with OHB. The modern Lightning Imager is developed by Leonardo in Italy. Telespazio offers Eumetsat with launch and in-orbit providers.