SpaceX successfully launched the MTG-Sounder (MTG-S1) satellite on July 1, 2025, using a Falcon 9 rocket from Florida's Kennedy Space Center. This mission, a collaborative effort between EUMETSAT and ESA, aims to significantly enhance weather forecasting and air quality monitoring across Europe and northern Africa.
The MTG-S1 satellite, part of the Meteosat Third Generation series, carries the Infrared Sounder instrument. This instrument will generate 3D atmospheric maps by collecting data on temperature, humidity, and trace gases. It also hosts the Copernicus Sentinel-4 instrument, which will monitor air quality over Europe and northern Africa hourly.
The Falcon 9's first stage, which previously supported multiple missions, successfully landed on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. The MTG-S1 is now heading to its geostationary orbit, where it will provide continuous coverage. This will provide meteorologists with a comprehensive weather picture and complement data from the MTG-I satellite.
This mission is expected to improve the accuracy of weather forecasts and air quality monitoring. It addresses critical scientific and societal challenges related to extreme weather events and air pollution. The advancements represent a significant step forward in global environmental monitoring capabilities.