Image: MetOp second generation A type satellite for weather forecasting
Source: ESA
The first satellite of EUMETSAT’s second-generation MetOp series was successfully launched into orbit on August 13, 2025, in the early hours of the morning Finnish time. This advanced satellite is set to significantly improve the accuracy of weather forecasts. By monitoring Earth’s atmosphere – including temperature and humidity – it provides vital data that helps anticipate extreme weather events and track the progression of climate change.
The second-generation EPS-SG system has been developed in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA). The MetOp-SG satellites in the system are developed under ESA contract by a European industrial consortium led by Airbus Defence and Space. From Finland, DA-Group Ltd. and VTT MilliLab are part of the consortium.
MetOp-SG consists of three pairs of A and B type satellites, each equipped with multiple instruments for Earth observation. The newly launched A1 is the first of the three type A satellites. These satellites provide high-quality data on Earth’s weather and climate, including temperature, humidity, clouds, and winds.
Finnish company DA-Group built the 89 GHz radiometric receiver front-end units for the Microwave Sounder (MWS) instruments on board the type A MetOp satellites and the Microwave Imager (MWI) instruments on board type B satellites. A total of 15 units were built. VTT MilliLab tested the performance and reliability of these units.
Source: ESA
Additional information:
EUMETSAT: https://www.eumetsat.int/successful-launch-metop-sga1-take-weather-forecasting-new-heights
Arianespace: https://newsroom.arianespace.com/with-ariane-6-arianespace-successfully-launches-metop-sga1-satellite
VTT: https://www.vttresearch.com/en/ourservices/space-technology
