EUMETSAT Annual Report 2022
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<strong>EUMETSAT</strong> ANNUAL REPORT <strong>2022</strong><br />
Integration of the MTG-I1 satellite with the Ariane 5<br />
launcher, in preparation for launch from Kourou,<br />
French Guiana (credit: ESA, CNES, Arianespace)<br />
Meteosat Third Generation<br />
The recurrent MTG satellite platforms have been<br />
finished and have been placed in storage. MTG-I2 has<br />
been delivered to Thales Alenia Space in Cannes for<br />
storage, ready to start the final integration with its<br />
instruments in 2024, for a launch in 2026.<br />
MTG-I<br />
<strong>EUMETSAT</strong> took over control of the newest addition<br />
to its fleet of geostationary meteorological satellites<br />
– MTG-I1 – on 28 December <strong>2022</strong>. MTG-I1 was<br />
successfully launched on an Ariane 5 rocket from<br />
Kourou on 13 December. The launch and early<br />
operations phase (LEOP) lasted 15 days and was<br />
performed by Telespazio from the Fucino Space<br />
Centre in Italy.<br />
During the LEOP, a series of critical operations<br />
successfully deployed the satellite’s solar arrays,<br />
manoeuvred it into geostationary orbit and deployed<br />
its communications antennas from their stowed<br />
launch positions. MTG-I1 is currently undergoing<br />
a 12-month commissioning phase, during which<br />
its instruments will be calibrated and the data they<br />
produce validated. Operational service is expected<br />
to begin at the end of 2023.<br />
MTG-I1 was built by Thales Alenia Space under<br />
contract by ESA. ESA is responsible for procuring the<br />
satellites from industry and fulfilling <strong>EUMETSAT</strong>’s<br />
requirements. Thales Alenia Space Cannes is the<br />
prime industrial partner for the development of the<br />
MTG-I satellites and also integrated the Flexible<br />
Combined Imager instrument.<br />
Other partners included:<br />
• OHB-Bremen, which assembled, integrated<br />
and tested the platform<br />
• LEONARDO in Italy, which provided the Lightning<br />
Imager instrument<br />
• Thales Alenia Space Italy, which delivered the<br />
Data Collection and GEOSAR instruments.<br />
MTG-S<br />
The MTG-S1 spacecraft platform is fully ready<br />
and waiting for integration of the instruments.<br />
The Infrared Sounder (IRS) instrument underwent<br />
repairs in <strong>2022</strong> after an incident with ground support<br />
facilities. The IRS will enter its calibration campaign<br />
in spring 2023.<br />
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