EUMETSAT

EUMETSAT, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, is an intergovernmental organisation headquartered in Darmstadt, Germany. It was established in 1986 by a convention among European states to operate meteorological satellites on behalf of its members and to distribute the resulting data to national weather services, research institutions and commercial users. Its membership has grown to around 30 European states, and it works closely with the European Space Agency (ESA), which develops and procures the spacecraft, while EUMETSAT is responsible for operating the satellites, ground segments and data services. EUMETSAT's core business is satellite meteorology. It operates the Meteosat geostationary series, providing frequent imagery and nowcasting data over Europe, Africa and the Atlantic; the Metop polar-orbiting satellites, which supply global observations used in numerical weather prediction; and the Jason/ Sentinel-6 ocean-altimetry missions, which measure sea level and ocean circulation. It is also a partner in the European Union's Copernicus programme, operating the Sentinel-3, Sentinel-4, Sentinel-5 and Sentinel-6 missions and their data services, and it contributes to the global space-based observing system coordinated by WMO. EUMETSAT's products are not consumer goods but data and services: satellite imagery, atmospheric soundings, ocean and land observations, climate data records and near-real-time data streams delivered to national meteorological services, researchers and commercial downstream providers. Its users rely on these data for weather forecasting, severe-storm warning, climate monitoring, aviation and marine safety, and environmental policy. The organisation is funded by contributions from its member states, with additional funding from the EU for Copernicus activities. It is not a listed company; it is a public intergovernmental body. Its brand identity rests on scientific credibility, operational reliability and open data policies, and it is a central pillar of Europe's weather and climate infrastructure alongside ESA, ECMWF and the national meteorological services.

EUMETSAT was created by a convention signed by European states in 1986, with the aim of establishing, maintaining and exploiting European meteorological satellites on an operational basis. Before that, European access to geostationary weather imagery depended largely on arrangements with other operators, and the new organisation was intended to give Europe an independent operational capability. Its headquarters were established in Darmstadt, Germany, where it remains. The organisation's first major operational system was the Meteosat series of geostationary satellites, originally developed under ESA and then transferred to EUMETSAT for operations. Meteosat satellites provide frequent images of Europe, Africa and the Atlantic from geostationary orbit, supporting nowcasting and short-range forecasting. Subsequent generations, Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) and Meteosat Third Generation (MTG), introduced improved imagers and, with MTG, sounding instruments and lightning detection. In the 1990s EUMETSAT took over operations of the Metop polar-orbiting satellites, developed jointly with ESA and NOAA, which provide global observations used in numerical weather prediction. EUMETSAT also became involved in ocean altimetry through the Jason series and later Sentinel-6, and in the European Union's Copernicus programme, operating Sentinel-3 marine and land services, Sentinel-4 and Sentinel-5 atmospheric monitoring instruments, and Sentinel-6 ocean altimetry. Over time the organisation expanded its membership and its data services, including the EUMETCast dissemination system and near-real-time data streams to national meteorological services. It has also developed climate data records and services supporting climate monitoring and policy. Its history is one of gradual expansion from a small geostationary satellite operator to a central component of Europe's weather and climate observing infrastructure, working alongside ESA, ECMWF and the national meteorological services of its member states.

• 2022

  Meteosat Third Generation (MTG-I1) launched.

• 2020

  Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich launched for ocean altimetry.

• 2016

  Sentinel-3A launched under the Copernicus programme.

• 2006

  Metop-A, the first Metop polar-orbiting satellite, launched.

• 2002

  Meteosat Second Generation (MSG-1) launched.

• 1995

  EUMETSAT begins operational Meteosat services after transfer from ESA.

• 1986

  EUMETSAT established by convention among European states.

Europe's operational satellite meteorology authority, supplying trusted weather and climate data to national meteorological services and global users.

• Meteosat geostationary satellites

• Metop polar-orbiting satellites

• Copernicus Sentinel-3/4/5/6 services

• EUMETCast data dissemination

• 2026.08.27

  Reported2026.08.27

  Ariane 6 launches MTG-I2 weather satellite[2]阿丽亚娜6号发射MTG-I2气象卫星space.com

  Arianespace's Ariane 6 rocket launched the MTG-I2 weather satellite from Kourou, French Guiana on Aug. 27, 2026, releasing it into geostationary transfer orbit 36 minutes after liftoff. MTG-I2 is the second imaging satellite in the Meteosat Third Generation network operated by EUMETSAT.

Read more

1. 1EUMETSAT official websiteeumetsat.int
2. 2阿丽亚娜6号发射MTG-I2气象卫星space.com