MTG-I1

MTG-I1

MTG-I1 Satellite before launch
Mission type	Meteorology
Operator	ESA, EUMETSAT
COSPAR ID	2022-170C
SATCAT no.	54743
Website	MTG (ESA)
Mission duration	Planned: 8.5 years [1]
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type	MTG-I
Bus	SmallGEO [2]
Manufacturer	Thales Alenia Space
Launch mass	3,760 kg (8,290 lb) [1]
Start of mission
Launch date	13 December 2022 (2022-12-13), 20:30 UTC
Rocket	Ariane 5 ECA (VA-259)
Launch site	Kourou ELA-3
Contractor	Arianespace
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	GEO [3]
Meteosat ←  MSG-4 MTG-S1  →

MTG-I1, officially designated Meteosat-12 upon entering operational service, is the first of four imaging satellite of the Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) system developed by EUMETSAT in cooperation with the European Space Agency (ESA). Launched on 13 December 2022, ^[4] it became fully operational on 7 January 2024, ^{[5] [6]} replacing MSG-4 as the prime geostationary meteorological satellite over Europe and Africa. ^{[1] [7] [8] [9]}

Timeline

Development

• In November 2010, ESA awarded a contract to Astrium (now part of Airbus Defence and Space) to develop and build four MTG-I satellites. At the time, the launches were expected to happen in 2017. ^[10]
• In November 2012, ESA and EUMETSAT signed an agreement to cooperate on MTG Program. ^[11]

Launch campaign

• In March 2022, MTG-I1 satellite had completed all functional and environmental tests and was pronounced ready for transport to the launch site. ^[12]
• On 29 September 2022, the MTG-I1 satellite left Marseille on board the MNToucan cargo ship and arrived at Kourou on 18 October. ^{[13] [14]}
• On 6 December 2022, ESA announced that the MTG-I1 satellite would launch no earlier than 13 July 2022, 20:30 UTC ^[4]
• On 12 December 2022, Arianespace rolled out the Ariane 5 carrying the MTG-I1 satellite and two other satellites (Galaxy-35 & 36 for Intelsat) to the pad. ^[15]
• Ariane 5 with the MTG-I1 satellite launched on 13 December 2022 at 20:20 UTC toward geostationary transfer orbit. ^{[16] [17]}

In orbit

• In May 2023, ESA published first preliminary images from the MTG-I1 mission. ^[18]

Gallery: launch

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  Artistic Representation of MTG-I1 on Ariane 5 during liftoff
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  Artistic Representation of MTG-I1 on Ariane 5 during booster separation
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  Artistic Representation of MTG-I1 on Ariane 5 during fairing separation
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  Artistic Representation of MTG-I1 on Ariane 5 during core stage separation and upper stage ignition
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  Artistic Representation of MTG-I1 on Ariane 5 during Sylda separation
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  Artistic Representation of MTG-I1 during spacecraft separation
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  Artistic Representation of MTG-I1 during solar array
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  Artistic Representation of MTG-I spacecraft

Gallery: results

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See also

• Spaceflight portal

• 2022 in spaceflight
• List of European Space Agency programmes and missions

References

1. "MTG-I 1, 2, 3, 4 (Meteosat 12, 14, 15, 17)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
2. "MTG-S 1, 2 (Meteosat 13, 16 / Sentinel 4A, 4B)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
3. "MTG" . Retrieved 2022-01-18.
4. "MTG-I1 never to be seen again". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
5. "Europe's most advanced weather satellite is now fully operational | EUMETSAT". www.eumetsat.int. 2024-04-12. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
6. "Discover the first images of MTG-I1 | EUMETSAT". www.eumetsat.int. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
7. "Facts and figures". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
8. "WMO OSCAR | Satellite: Meteosat-12". space.oscar.wmo.int. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
9. "Introducing MTG". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
10. "Development of Meteosat Third Generation to start". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
11. "Meteosat Third Generation agreement signed at Ministerial meeting". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
12. "MTG-I weather satellite passes tests in preparation for liftoff". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
13. "Europe's new weather satellite sets sail". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
14. "Europe's all-new weather satellite arrives at launch site". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
15. "MTG-I1 rolled out and good to go". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
16. "A new era of weather forecasting begins". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
17. "Galaxy 35 & 36, MTG-I1 | Ariane 5 ECA | Next Spaceflight". nextspaceflight.com. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
18. "New weather satellite reveals spectacular images of Earth". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2025-10-29.