MSG-3

The European Space Agency is planning to launch the third Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) satellite, MSG-3, from Kourou, French Guiana in June this year to improve weather prediction.

After its launch, it will be injected into geostationary orbit at an altitude of 36,000km over the equator and will be assigned with the task of keeping track of cloud development and temperature to enhance weather forecasting accuracy.

MSG-3 also has two secondary missions in the areas of radiation and rescue.

ESA Earth Observation Programmes director, Volker Liebig, said: "The latest MSG satellite will continue to deliver precise data in a wide range of spectral bands to ensure high accuracy in weather forecasting in the years to come, and keep close track on cloud development."

The Global Earth Radiation Budget payload measures energy radiated by Earth, which gives insight into atmosphere circulation and energy distribution.

MSG-3 underwent an intensive, two-day test last month to certify flight procedures which include receiving commands and delivering data.

ESA has launched the first in the series, MSG-1 satellite also known as Meteosat-8 in 2002 followed by the second MSG launch three years later.

The MSGs will offer more spectral channels and sense the Earth at a higher resolution than the earlier Meteosat satellites.

ESA said that the series returns highly detailed imagery of Europe, the North Atlantic and Africa every 15 minutes for use by meteorologists and national weather forecasters.

ESA has developed the satellites in collaboration with Eumetsat and is responsible for the complex launch and early orbit phase.

 

Image: MSG-3 will keep the track of cloud development and temperature to enhance weather forecasting accuracy. Photo: ESA