[Satellite News 07-22-08] Arianespace won a launch services contract with Eumetsat (the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites) for the launch of the MSG-4 meteorological observation satellite , the company said July 22.
    The MSG-4 satellite is scheduled for launch in the first half of 2013 by an Ariane 5 or Soyuz launcher from the Guiana Space Center.
    Thales Alenia Space is building MSG-4, which is intended to ensure the continuity of European meteorological services and provide data for weather forecasting and climate/environment monitoring in Europe and neighboring continents.
    This is the tenth satellite for which the intergovernmental organization Eumetsat has chosen an Ariane launch. Arianespace previously launched the MSG-1 and MSG-2 satellites and will launch MSG-3 in 2010.