Weather Satellite Promises Major Leap in Forecasting Accuracy

A powerful new weather satellite has officially entered orbit and is set to revolutionise the way meteorologists monitor the atmosphere and forecast extreme weather across Europe and beyond.

The Meteosat Third Generation Sounder-1 (MTG-S1) satellite, which successfully launched on 1 July 2025, has now completed its initial Launch and Early Operations Phase (LEOP) and is positioned in a geostationary orbit approximately 36,000km above the Equator at 3.4°W longitude.

MTG-S1 carries two advanced instruments: the Infrared Sounder (IRS) and the Copernicus Sentinel-4 atmospheric monitoring payload, developed under the European Union’s Copernicus Earth observation programme. These instruments will deliver entirely new streams of data that will dramatically improve early weather warnings and climate monitoring.

Over the coming months, experts from EUMETSAT — Europe’s meteorological satellite agency — along with the European Space Agency (ESA) and industry partners, will conduct a thorough commissioning phase to test and calibrate the satellite’s instruments. Once operational, MTG-S1 will provide near real-time data that national meteorological services can use to track storms, heatwaves, and other weather hazards with greater speed and precision.

“The successful completion of the LEOP confirms that the MTG-S1 satellite platform is functioning as expected and ready for the next stage,” said Julia Hunter-Anderson, EUMETSAT’s Meteosat Third Generation LEOP Manager. “Taking control of the satellite in a healthy condition marks a major milestone for EUMETSAT and our partners.”

Hunter-Anderson praised the “immense dedication and hard work” of the hundreds of engineers, scientists and technicians involved, adding that the satellite’s instruments will help “protect societies, improve lives and livelihoods, and enhance how we monitor the climate and forecast weather.”

What will MTG-S1 do?

MTG-S1 is the first satellite of its kind to deliver high-resolution infrared soundings from geostationary orbit, providing a vertical profile of temperature, humidity, and atmospheric gases every hour. This data will feed directly into weather models, enhancing short-term forecasts and severe weather warnings.

Its onboard Sentinel-4 instrument will also continuously monitor air quality over Europe, tracking pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and aerosols, and supporting both health and environmental policy.

The satellite forms part of the broader Meteosat Third Generation programme — a collaborative venture between EUMETSAT and ESA — which aims to replace the ageing Meteosat Second Generation satellites with more advanced capabilities for the coming decades.

For further updates on MTG-S1 and its progress toward full operational status, visit EUMETSAT’s official launch hub.