This is an artist's impression of the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG-1) satellite which was launched at around 00.30h Central European Summer Time Wednesday August 28, 2002, from Kourou in French Guiana.
MSG will provide 20 times more information than the predecessor Meteosat system, with a wider range of more precise images of the changing weather over Europe, Africa, neighbouring continents and oceans every 15 minutes instead of the current 30. In particular, it will watch over the Atlantic, where much of Europe's weather develops.

SG-1 will be the first of three geostationary satellites expected to maintain constant watch on the weather from the same position as its predecessors, 36,000 km above the equator over the Gulf of Guinea, for the next 12 years. A fourth MSG is in the planning stage for continuation of the service.

The first MSG satellite has been developed by ESA and built byEuropean Industry (prime contractor Alcatel). EUMETSAT co-ordinated the user requirements, developed the ground processing and satellite control system, procured all launches and will operate the system for at least 12 years.

EUMETSAT is an intergovernmental organisation that establishes and maintains operational meteorological satellites for 18 European States. The images and data from Meteosat will make a significant contribution to weather forecasting and to the monitoring of the global climate.