Editing Meteosat (section)

==Third Generation ("MTG")==
[[File:Meteosat Third Generation weather satellites ESA24390147.jpeg|thumb|Artist's rendering of Meteosat Third Generation]]
{| class="wikitable" style="float: right;"
|+Satellites in the third generation Meteosat series<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.eumetsat.int/meteosat-third-generation |title=Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) - EUMETSAT|date=22 May 2020 }}</ref>
|-
! Satellite
! Launch date
! Mission end
|-
| [[Meteosat-12]] (MTG-I1)
| 13-12-2022 20:30 UTC
| TBD
|-
| [[Meteosat-13]] (MTG-S1)
| Planned for 2025
| TBD
|-
| [[Meteosat-14]] (MTG-I2)
| Planned for 2026 
| TBD
|}
Considering the long development cycle for a new observational space system, [[EUMETSAT]] has been working on the definition and the planning for a Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) system since the year 2000. MTG components providing continuity of MSG services need to be available before the end of the nominal lifetime of MSG. MTG preparatory activities started end of 2000 in cooperation with the European Space Agency (ESA), following the decision of the EUMETSAT Council to proceed with a Post-MSG User Consultation Process. The process is aimed at capturing the foreseeable needs of users of EUMETSAT's satellite data in the 2015-2025 timeframe.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.eumetsat.int/website/home/Satellites/FutureSatellites/MeteosatThirdGeneration/index.html |title=Meteosat Third Generation |access-date=2016-03-18 |archive-date=2016-03-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322075220/http://www.eumetsat.int/website/home/Satellites/FutureSatellites/MeteosatThirdGeneration/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 19 March 2010, ESA chose [[Thales Alenia Space]] for a final negotiation leading to a contract to be signed during June.<ref>ESA and Thales Alenia Space enter negotiations for MTG, ESA Press release, March 19, 2010, [http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMXKUCKP6G_index_0.html online www.esa.int]</ref>

On 22 June 2010, EUMETSAT confirmed the choice of Thales Alenia Space.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.eumetsat.int/website/home/News/DAT_2044868.html |title=EUMETSAT 70th council puts MTG on tracks |access-date=2016-03-18 |archive-date=2016-03-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326093535/http://www.eumetsat.int/website/home/News/DAT_2044868.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 24 February 2012, the development contract between [[European Space Agency|ESA]] and [[Thales Alenia Space]] was signed by Mr. Liebig and Mr. Seznec. Thales Alenia Space leads the industrial consortium that is now building the MTG family. Along with being the prime contractor, Thales Alenia Space is responsible for the MTG-I imaging satellite, including the primary payload, the Flexible Combined Imager. Bremen-based [[OHB-System|OHB]] is responsible for the MTG-S satellites and provision of the common satellite platforms, supported by [[EADS Astrium|Astrium GmbH]] as the [[Systems architect|System Architect]].

A total of 6 satellites are being developed under the MTG contract. Four MTG-I imaging satellites, as well as two MTG-S sounder satellites. The launch of the first MTG satellite, Meteosat-12 (MTG-I1), occurred on 13 December 2022, at 20:30 UTC<ref name="ariane-20221125">{{cite tweet |author=[[Arianespace]] |user=Arianespace |number=1596096579718770689 |title=[5/5] 🗓️ The new targeted launch date for #VV22 now is December 20; 🗓️ The new targeted launch date for #VA259 –initially scheduled for December 14- now is December 13. |date=25 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dlr.de/rd/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-4926/8178_read-5116/ |title=Ariane-5-Missionen |trans-title=Ariane-5 Missions |access-date=20 October 2022 |work=[[German Aerospace Center|DLR]] |language=german}}</ref> and has been operational since December 2024.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eumetsat.int/europes-most-advanced-weather-satellite-now-fully-operational |title=Europe’s most advanced weather satellite is now fully operational |work=EUMETSAT |date=4 December 2024 |language=en |access-date=1 January 2025}}</ref> This will be followed by the first MTG-S in 2025 and the next MTG-I in 2026. The next three satellites will be launched around 10 years later to replace the first set, which have a nominal life of 8.5 years but sufficient fuel for more than 10.7 years.