Eumetsat, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, confirmed that Meteosat-9 is now the prime satellite operating at 0°, replacing Meteosat-8. Meteosat-9 was placed into orbit in December 2005 and has been operating as backup to the Meteosat-8 satellite since July 2006. The transition marks the end of an extended validation period to correct some minor problems. Meteosat-9 satellite is expected to be the prime satellite until 2012.