Good evening weather satellite watchers!

We’re off to French Guyana in South America to launch the next spacecraft to provide essential data to help our weather forecasters improve their predictions.

The first of the Meteosat Third Generation Imaging satellites has been long in the making and now it’s ready to start the journey to the spaceport in Kourou, also known as Centre Spatial Guyanais (CSG), for launch by the end of the year.

Thanks to the excellent and tireless work of the ESA, Thales Alenia Space and Eumetsat teams, the first member of the next generation of European meteorological satellites has completed the final preparation phase and has been packed!

… this was the last sight of our spacecraft before the container door opening once in the cleanroom in CSG… (Credits: Thales Alenia Space)

Early yesterday morning the MTG-I1 satellite was loaded into the transport container and the door closed safely securing our precious cargo inside for the long journey ahead.

The satellite container being loaded onto the flatbed lorry to leave Cannes. (Credits: ESA)

Then, late last night the satellite, inside its container, left the Thales Alenia Space facility in Cannes heading by road to the harbour of Fos-sur-Mer, where it was loaded early this morning into the boat.

The satellite container arriving at the harbour. (Credits: ESA)

The boat will leave late tonight heading to the Pariacabo harbour near the spaceport.

The boat ready to receive the satellite container. (Credits: ESA)

In parallel to all of these transportation activities the Final Mission Analysis Review with the launch vehicle supplier, Arianespace, was held, that confirmed compatibility of the MTG-I1 satellite with the Ariane 5 rocket. This was another big step towards the launch.

The satellite container being loaded on the boat. (Credits: ESA)

Next week the early team will leave Europe and head to Kourou to get things ready in the spaceport to ensure everything’s in place before the satellite arrives in about two weeks’ time.

… why don’t you join us over the next few months as we continue our journey?

Post from James Champion, ESA MTG Satellites Engineering & AITV Manager

Read more about the Meteosat Third Generation mission.