The first data and images from the new European weather satellite, developed and built by OHB System AG on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA), were presented today at the European Space Conference. The satellite is called Meteosat Third Generation Sounder (MTG-S1) and is equipped with a special infrared sounding instrument that provides three-dimensional profiles of temperature and humidity distribution in the atmosphere from a geostationary orbit at an altitude of 36,000 km.
“These initial data provide compelling evidence of the technological level the MTG Sounder instrument has achieved. The recordings have deeply impressed me, and I am incredibly proud of the entire MTG team,” said Chiara Pedersoli, CEO of OHB System AG.
The images of Earth presented here demonstrate how precisely the MTG sounder can detect temperature and humidity patterns. The long-wave infrared channels clearly reveal temperature contrasts, while the humidity channels provide, for the first time, detailed insights into the distribution of atmospheric moisture. The images demonstrate the instrument’s potential to detect unstable weather conditions before clouds even form—a crucial advance for short-term forecasts, particularly for extreme weather events.
The data released by EUMETSAT and ESA mark the satellite’s successful transition into the operational testing phase. With MTG-S1, a new era begins for European weather and climate monitoring, in which atmospheric processes can be observed continuously and in high resolution in 3D for the first time.
All images and animations released today are available on theEUMETSATandESAwebsites.
About MTG
The MTG mission currently has two satellites in orbit: an MTG Imager and the MTG Sounder, which was launched in July 2025. The second Imager will be launched later in 2026. OHB System AG, as the prime contractor, is responsible for the MTG Sounder satellite, as well as for all six platforms of the third-generation weather satellites. Mission control and data distribution are managed by EUMETSAT. The industrial consortium is led by Thales Alenia Space.