Arianespace’s VA224 mission on July 15, 2015. Photo: Arianespace

[Via Satellite 07-16-2015] On the heels of its third Ariane 5 launch of the year, Arianespace clenched a new contract from the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) to orbit geostationary satellites from the upcoming Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) series. The company received two firm Ariane 5 ECA launch orders for MTG-I1 and MTG-S1, and one option for MTG- I2. The missions are scheduled in the 2019 to 2023 timeframe.

On July 15, Arianespace successfully launched Eumetsat’s MSG 4 satellite for weather, climate and environmental monitoring, as well as the Star One C4 satellite for Brazilian operator Embratel Star One. Thales Alenia Space built MTG 4 and SSL built Star One C4.

The MTG program reaches from 2020 through 2040, bolstering the services currently delivered by the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) series in support of nowcasting and very short-range forecasting of high impact weather over Europe and Africa. The MTG satellite system is comprised of two separate lines of imaging and sounding satellites operated concurrently.

“This contract reflects the trust of the 30 member states of Eumetsat in Arianespace for the delivery of the first three MTG satellites to orbit,” said Alain Ratier, director-general at Eumetsat.