MSG-4 Weather Satellite Returns First Image of Earth
Posted on August 4, 2015
The MSG-4 weather satellite has taken its first image of Earth. The image is a joint achievement by ESA, EUMETSAT, and the European space industry. The impressive image was taken with the Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) instrument on the satellite.
A hi-res version of the image can be downloaded here from eumetsat.int. The image demonstrates that the geostationary weather satellite is performing well.
The MSG-4 is the fourth and last satellite in the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) series of geostationary satellites. It was launched on July 15. The satellite was handed over from the ESA to EUMETSAT on July 27. After the handover, EMESTAT started commissioning the satellite and its sensors. This includes a two-month phase of satellite check-out and assessment, followed by four months for imaging and product testing, including calibration and validation. EUMETSAT says the satellite will become fully operational after six months of commissioning.
EUMETSAT stands for the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites. The organization's website offers some real-time Earth weather imagery from its satellites located under the images tab.