NEWTOWN, Conn. - Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) construction began in February 2012. There was some controversy as members of EUMETSAT argued over contractor division of labor. In February 2011, however, the final EUMETSAT member, Belgium, approved the deal. A $1.8 billion contract was signed with prime contractor Thales Alenia Space to begin work on MTG the following year. MTG is expected to secure Meteosat weather and climate data for Europe for the next 30 years.
The MTG program will see six satellites produced in two distinct variants: those equipped with imaging equipment (designated MTG-I) and those equipped with sounder equipment (MTG-S). Four MTG-Is will be built to cover European meteorological imaging needs in solar spectral and thermal spectral bands, while two MTG-S satellites will provide sounding information on horizontally, vertically, and temporally resolved water vapor and temperature structures. The first MTG will launch in 2018.
Through its production run, four Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) satellites were produced. Three have already been launched, while the last satellite is in storage. The launch of the third MSG occurred in July 2012, while MSG-4 is not expected to reach orbit until 2015.
In April 2011, Meteosat-6, a first-generation satellite, was placed into graveyard orbit, ending its operational life. Meteosat-6 was launched in 1993. This leaves only one first-generation satellite still functional - Meteosat-7. While Meteosat-7 is no longer operational, it is expected to have enough fuel to be used as an in-orbit backup until 2016.
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