https://www.eumetsat.int/europes-first-geostationary-sounder-satellite-launched Skip to main content EUMETSAT Main navigation * IMAGES IMAGES + Real time imagery o EUMETView (Real-time images) o Earth view + Imagery and media o Image of the week o Choose your Meteosat image o Videos and podcasts o Data visualisation * SATELLITES SATELLITES + What we monitor o Weather o Climate o Ocean o Land o Atmosphere + Our satellites o Meteosat series o Metop series o Sentinel series o Jason-3 o EPS Aeolus o EPS Sterna o Upcoming launches + Satellite operations o Launches and orbits o Ground segment * ABOUT US ABOUT US + About us o Who we are o What we do o Publications o Satellite Application Facilities + International cooperation o Partners in Europe o Bilateral partnerships o Multilateral partnerships o Regional collaborations o Copernicus o Destination Earth + Work with us o Careers at EUMETSAT o Vacancies o Business opportunities o Extranet access + Legal framework o Basic documents o Data policy o Council resolutions o EUMETSAT Appeals Board * DATA AND SCIENCE DATA AND SCIENCE + EUMETSAT User Portal o Visit the User Portal + Platforms o European Weather Cloud o WEkEO o Destination Earth + Science o Science studies o Scientific algorithms o Science meetings o Cal / Val and FRM o Visiting scientists o Research Fellowships o Early Career Scientists Initiative + Frontiers in science o Science innovation o Science roadmaps o EUMETSAT programmes and Horizon Europe * EDUCATION EDUCATION + Education o Learning resources * NEWS AND EVENTS NEWS AND EVENTS + News o Latest news o Press releases o Features o Case studies + Conferences & events o Current events o Previous events * IMAGES + Real time imagery o EUMETView (Real-time images) o Earth view + Imagery and media o Image of the week o Choose your Meteosat image o Videos and podcasts o Data visualisation * SATELLITES + What we monitor o Weather o Climate o Ocean o Land o Atmosphere + Our satellites o Meteosat series o Metop series o Sentinel series o Jason-3 o EPS Aeolus o EPS Sterna o Upcoming launches + Satellite operations o Launches and orbits o Ground segment * ABOUT US + About us o Who we are o What we do o Publications o Satellite Application Facilities + International cooperation o Partners in Europe o Bilateral partnerships o Multilateral partnerships o Regional collaborations o Copernicus o Destination Earth + Work with us o Careers at EUMETSAT o Vacancies o Business opportunities o Extranet access + Legal framework o Basic documents o Data policy o Council resolutions o EUMETSAT Appeals Board * DATA AND SCIENCE + EUMETSAT User Portal o Visit the User Portal + Platforms o European Weather Cloud o WEkEO o Destination Earth + Science o Science studies o Scientific algorithms o Science meetings o Cal / Val and FRM o Visiting scientists o Research Fellowships o Early Career Scientists Initiative + Frontiers in science o Science innovation o Science roadmaps o EUMETSAT programmes and Horizon Europe * EDUCATION + Education o Learning resources * NEWS AND EVENTS + News o Latest news o Press releases o Features o Case studies + Conferences & events o Current events o Previous events WEBSITE USER PORTAL Search text [ ] Required field Search within (*) Meteosat ( ) Entire Website Search Search text [ ] Search MTG-S Europe's first geostationary sounder satellite is launched Europe has taken a major step forward in strengthening resilience to extreme weather with the launch of Meteosat Third Generation Sounder 1 MTG-S MTG-S Europe has taken a major step forward in strengthening its resilience to extreme weather events with the successful launch of the Meteosat Third Generation Sounder 1 (MTG-S1) satellite. MTG-S1 will deliver new streams of atmospheric data, enabling earlier, more accurate warnings that protect lives, property and infrastructure. Last Updated 02 July 2025 Published on 02 July 2025 * * * * Extreme weather events like storms, flooding, and heatwaves have caused hundreds of billions of euros in damage and claimed tens of thousands of lives across Europe in the past decades. Launched on 1 July 2025, MTG-S1 will provide Europe's national meteorological services with high-frequency data on temperature, humidity and trace gases throughout the atmosphere - enabling forecasters to detect the earliest signs of severe weather, extend the lead times of weather warnings, improve forecasting, and help protect lives and property. Phil Evans, Director-General of EUMETSAT, said: "MTG-S1 will provide entirely new types of data products that will support specialists across EUMETSAT member states in detecting signs of atmospheric instability even before clouds begin to form. Combined with data from the MTG imaging satellites, it will, for the first time, offer a space-based view of the full lifecycle of convective storms. This will provide tremendous support to national meteorological services in carrying out their vital work, helping to save lives, reduce disruption, and strengthen resilience. "The effects of the climate crisis are not distant threats: they are already being felt across Europe - through more frequent storms, longer heatwaves, and shifting climate patterns. MTG-S1 will support more timely warnings, safer travel decisions, more effective emergency response, and support informed action. "My sincere thanks go to everyone who made MTG-S1 possible - our teams at EUMETSAT, our member states, the European Union, the European Space Agency, national meteorological services, and all our industrial and academic partners. This successful launch is a testament to the strength of European cooperation. We now look forward to moving to the next phases and preparing the satellite for full operations." A forecasting revolution MTG-S1 is the first geostationary meteorological sounder satellite to fly over Europe and carries two key missions: the Infrared Sounder and the European Union's Copernicus Sentinel-4 Ultraviolet Visible Near-infrared spectrometer. Applause broke out at EUMETSAT headquarters in Darmstadt, Germany, as staff, guests, and media watched a live stream of the satellite separating from its launcher and continuing its journey into orbit. Tension turned to celebration as confirmation arrived that the satellite had contacted ground control, deployed its solar panels, and was on course for geostationary orbit - some 36,000 km above the equator. With power and communications established, MTG-S1 entered its Launch and Early Operations Phase, during which engineers are activating systems and guiding it to its geostationary orbital position. From this position, aligned with Earth's rotation, MTG-S1 will maintain an uninterrupted view of Europe, Africa, and surrounding regions. MTG-S1's Infrared Sounder will scan nearly 2,000 thermal infrared wavelengths every 30 minutes to build vertical profiles of temperature, humidity, and trace gases. These data will be crucial for detecting fast-developing convective weather by revealing sudden shifts in instability, moisture, or wind - even before clouds begin to form. Combined with imagery from MTG's imager satellites, it will offer a continuous view of a storm's full life cycle, from early instability through to lightning and dissipation. The observations made by MTG-S1 will also enhance very-short-range forecasts called nowcasts, daily forecasts, improve models linking weather, air quality, and climate, and support long-term climate monitoring. The Copernicus Sentinel-4 mission is expected to provide hourly data on pollutants and aerosols - including from wildfires and volcanic eruptions - that will enable specialists to monitor emissions, enhance air quality forecasts, support public health and environmental policy. Copernicus is the Earth Observation component of the European Union Space Programme. Simonetta Cheli, Director of Earth Observation Programmes at ESA, said: "These two groundbreaking missions are set to change the way we forecast both severe weather and the quality of air over Europe. It is thanks to the outstanding work our teams have done with EUMETSAT, the European Commission and dozens of European industry partners, that we are able to now look forward to more accurate and timely ways of predicting storm events and air pollution." Christoph Kautz, Director for Space Policy, Earth Observation and Satellite Navigation at the European Commission said: "I warmly congratulate everyone involved in the launch of MTG-S1 and Copernicus Sentinel-4, which will vastly enhance Europe's ability to monitor the atmosphere from space. This achievement is a powerful example of how European cooperation can provide vital data in support of services such as the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service that protect public health, strengthen environmental monitoring, and improve lives across Europe." For further updates on MTG-S1, visit EUMETSAT's launch hub, which features news, interviews, and insights into the satellite's journey. Find all relevant information, biographies of speakers, videos and testimonials on our dedicated press page. MTG Sounding A Spot MTG-S1 is part of the Meteosat Third Generation programme, Europe's new fleet of geostationary meteorological satellites. Image: EUMETSAT Image credit: SpaceX --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, Turkiye and the United Kingdom. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Press release translations france germany Previous Further information about Copernicus Next Dust over red sea Image of the day Receive our picture of the day in your mailbox every evening! ASpot image Copernicus | Earth Observation Copernicus is the Earth observation component of the European Union's Space programme. [climate] The European Union in Space We craft policies and implement the EU Space Programme to tackle some of today's most pressing challenges like climate change. Previous Further reading Next Features Observing the life cycle of a storm Meteosat Third Generation satellites improve the nowcasting of storms [Trees] Features Breaking through the clouds How EUMETSAT's new satellite help understand and predict cloud development Cloud formation Features Seizing the moment How data from EUMETSAT's programmes support meteorologists at Met Eireann to nowcast severe weather events and issue warnings. aspot logo eumetsat The European operational satellite agency for monitoring weather, climate and the environment from space on behalf of our member states. 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