MMM SEMINAR NCAR
Plans for EUMETSAT's Third Generation Meteosat (MTG)
Geostationary Satellite Program
Rolf Stuhlmann
EUMETSAT - Darmstadt, Germany
After
movement of the first Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) satellite to 3.3 degree
West by end of January 2004, the satellite has been renamed Meteosat-8 and the
system has been declared fully operational. Meteosat-8 is now the primary
European source of geostationary observations over Europe and Africa, as the
first in a series of four satellites expected to deliver operational services
at least until 2015. Considering the typical development cycle of new complex
space systems, and the time required for the definition phases and the approval
of complex programmes, it has already become necessary to plan for follow-up
missions. EUMETSAT has therefore, as a first step in the preparation of the
follow-on Third Generation Meteosat (MTG) European geostationary satellite
system, established a USER Consultation Process aimed at capturing the
foreseeable high-level user/service needs and priorities of the EUMETSAT
customers and users in the 2015-2025 timeframe. This process was implemented
through the set up of Applications Expert Groups (AEGs) tasked to propose their
vision on operational services, to define associated needs and priorities for
input information and observations. At the 1st Post-MSG User Consultation
Workshop, November 2001, the work of the AEGs were presented to a broader user
group serving as a basis for the identification of relevant observing
techniques and the definition of requirements for the MTG observation missions.
Currently, a total of five observation missions a:
-
High Resolution Fast Imagery Mission (successor to MSG SEVIRI HRV mission)
-
Full Disk High Spectral Resolution Imagery Mission (successor to the mission of
other SEVIRI channels)
-
Lightning Imagery Mission
-
IR Sounding Mission
-
UV Sounding Mission
have
been defined for pre-phase A studies at system level under ESA contract started
September 2004. The presentation will give an overview on the current status of
the definition of the five observation missions, followed by a brief
description of the MTG schedule and related milestones.
Refreshments10:15 AM
NCAR-Foothills Laboratory
3450 Mitchell Lane
Bldg 3 (Rm. 2072)