The European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) has awarded a launch service contract to SpaceX for the launch of the Meteosat Third Generation-Sounder 1 (MTG-S1) satellite on a Falcon 9 rocket in 2025.
Meteosat Third Generation-Sounder 1 satellite
MTG-S1 is the first European sounding satellite in a geostationary orbit and, the agency says, will bring a “revolution for weather forecasting and climate monitoring in Europe and Africa”, and make it possible, for the first time, to observe the full lifecycle of a convective storm from space. Its launch is to ensure that national weather services can benefit from new and more accurate data to protect lives, properties and infrastructures.
EUMETSAT’s satellite launch
The contract decision was reached during the council meeting which took place on June 26-27, 2024, where the EUMETSAT member states, in line with the organization’s convention, reiterated their support to European industrial technologies and the objective to maintain independent access to space for Europe.
“This decision was driven by exceptional circumstances” explained EUMETSAT director-general Phil Evans. “It does not compromise our standard policy of supporting European partners, and we look forward to a successful SpaceX launch for this masterpiece of European technology.”
The launch service contracts for the upcoming MTG-I2, Metop-SGA and Metop-SGB satellites remain with Arianespace who continues to be EUMETSAT long-standing and trusted launch partner.
In related news, NASA and SpaceX recently launched the fourth and final satellite in a series of advanced weather satellites for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here to read the full story.