[Satellite TODAY 11-22-10] Prime contractor Thales Alenia Space and its partner OHB-System have been given the green light to begin work on the Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) system from the European Space Agency (ESA), Thales announced Nov. 19.
    The 1.3 billion euro ($1.77 billion), six-satellite program is being co-financed by ESA and the European meteorological organization, Eumetsat and will work to guarantee access to space data until 2037.
    The system will consist of four imaging satellites, as well as two sounders satellites providing infrared and ultraviolet capabilities, for both climate and meteorological applications.
    Thales Alenia Space will be in charge of the imaging mission, providing the four imaging satellites and their main instrument. OHB-System is in charge of the sounder mission, providing the two sounders satellites while its sister company Kayser-Threde provides the atmospheric sounders instrument. Furthermore, OHB-System will develop the six satellites’ 3-axis stabilized common platform.
   “This contract shows the bright side of our French-German team building for the benefit of this European program, combining the right complementary skills in order to provide the best value for the customer” said Berry Smutny, president and CEO of OHB-System, in a statement.
   The launch of the first MTG imaging satellite is currently planned for 2017, followed by the launch of the first MTG sounding satellite in 2019.