Plans for EUMETSAT's Third Generation Meteosat geostationary satellite programme

The second generation of Meteosat satellites is expected to provide operational services at least until 2015. Considering the time required for the definition phases of new space systems their typical development cycle and the approval of complex programmes, it is necessary to start planning for follow-up geostationary missions already now. EUMETSAT has therefore 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 led to a first definition of the Third Generation Meteosat (MTG) European geostationary satellite system, which currently consists of a total of five observation missions defined for pre-phase A studies at system level under ESA contract to be started in autumn 2004. The paper gives an overview on the current status of definition of the five observation missions, and a brief description of the MTG schedule and related milestones. Results of scientific studies and presentations/conclusions of MTG User Consultation Workshops and dedicated expert workshops conducted to define the MTG candidate missions are openly available from the EUMETSAT web-page www.eumetsat.de, under the sub-directory 'Preparation of Future Programmes/Meteosat Third Generation (MTG)'. (c) 2005 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.