Media representatives from across Europe have enjoyed a unique opportunity to see the Meteosat Third Generation – Sounder 1 (MTG-S1) satellite up close before its launch. The special event took place today, 20 February 2025, in the satellite clean room of MTG-S1 prime contractor OHB in Bremen, Germany.
MTG-S1, the first European geostationary satellite to carry an Infrared Sounder instrument, also hosts the European Union’s Copernicus Sentinel-4 mission. It will be the second satellite launched under the MTG programme, the next generation of Europe’s long-running Meteosat series.
Participants visited the clean room facilities where MTG-S1 is currently located, attended presentations, and spoke with specialists from EUMETSAT, the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Commission, the German Weather Service (DWD), OHB, Thales Alenia Space, Airbus, and other European partners. These organisations have worked closely together to develop and deliver the satellite in preparation for its launch.
Cristian Bank, EUMETSAT’s Director of Programme Preparation and Development, said: “MTG-S1 will enhance forecasters’ ability to track rapidly evolving weather patterns and improve prediction accuracy. We have worked closely with the user community throughout development, and now, thanks to outstanding cooperation among our European partners, this remarkable satellite is nearly ready to be deployed. EUMETSAT looks forward to thoroughly testing and operating the satellite in orbit and delivering data that will benefit communities across our member states.”
MTG-S1’s Infrared Sounder instrument will provide three-dimensional observations of temperature, humidity and trace gases in the Earth’s atmosphere up to every 30 minutes, at different altitudes. These measurements will be particularly valuable for forecasters detecting early signs of storm development and for improving numerical weather prediction models. The satellite also carries the European Union’s Copernicus Sentinel-4 mission, equipped with an Ultraviolet Visible Near-infrared spectrometer, which will provide observations important for monitoring air quality and concentrations of greenhouse gasses.
The combined capabilities of MTG-S1’s Infrared Sounder and the Copernicus Sentinel-4 Ultraviolet, Visible, and Near-Infrared Sounder will contribute to improved air quality predictions, supporting experts working in areas such as weather forecasting, public health, agriculture, and scientific research monitor the movement and fluctuations of trace gasses on an hourly scale.

Once fully deployed, the MTG system is expected to generate at least 50 times more near-real-time data than the Meteosat Second Generation satellites. The first satellite in the constellation, Meteosat-12, launched in 2022, with data from the Flexible Combined Imager and Lightning Imager, already operational. Following the MTG-S1 launch, a second imager, Meteosat Third Generation – Imager 2 (MTG-I2), is scheduled to take to the skies in 2026. The full MTG constellation will consist of three operational satellites – two imaging (MTG-I) and one sounding (MTG-S) – with each being replaced over the programme’s lifetime, bringing the total to six satellites.

Dr Peter Braesicke, Director of Research and Development at DWD, said: “With climate change driving more frequent and intense weather events, accurate and timely forecasting has never been more critical. Satellites provide much of the essential data behind our forecasts, and we are particularly excited about MTG-S. Its observations will enable forecasters to provide more precise and timely severe weather warnings, while also supporting a wide range of other applications – from improving climate studies to enhancing air and maritime safety.”

For further updates on MTG-S1, visit EUMETSAT’s launch hub, which will be updated regularly with news, interviews and other insights into the satellite’s journey towards its orbital path, some 36,000km above the equator.

About EUMETSAT
EUMETSAT, Europe’s meteorological satellite agency, monitors the weather and climate from space. Based in Darmstadt, Germany, EUMETSAT provides its 30 member states with meteorological imagery and data that are essential for keeping their communities safe and for the benefit of critical sectors of their economies.

EUMETSAT’s 30 member states are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the United Kingdom.

For more information, see the EUMETSAT website.

Media Relations EUMETSAT:
Tel: +49 6151 807 7320
Email: press@eumetsat.in
www.eumetsat.int