MSG-4 is currently scheduled for launch in January 2013 from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, using either an Ariane 5 or a launch vehicle of the Soyuz family. It will be the tenth EUMETSAT satellite launched by Arianespace.

Arianespace already launched MSG-1 and MSG-2. MSG-3, currently scheduled for launch in January 2011, will be launched from the Guiana Space Centre using an Ariane 5 launch vehicle.

Dr. Prahm stated: “With this latest contract, EUMETSAT reconfirms its support of the European Space Policy, in which it plays an important role, and our confidence in Arianespace, which has already launched eight EUMETSAT satellites.”

Mr. Le Gall said: “We are especially proud of our partnership with EUMETSAT and of this opportunity to contribute to the continuity of the meteorological services that EUMETSAT offers in Europe and around the world.”

Preparations for the launches of MSG-3 and MSG-4 will begin around two years before the planned launch dates in 2011 and 2013; however, these are not yet definite as they depend on the in-orbit status of the satellites and their missions.

The first MSG satellite, which was renamed Meteosat-8, was launched in August 2002 and went operational in January 2004. It inaugurated a new era for meteorological satellites, offering a faster service with better images and data to European forecasters and other users.

These data and images are helping weather services give more accurate predictions of extreme weather, potentially saving property and lives. They also help researchers gain a deeper understanding of physical processes important to weather and climate change.

MSG satellites are spin-stabilised in geostationary orbit and perform full-disc scans of the Earth, just like predecessor satellites. However, MSG’s 12 spectral channels, or “eyes,” and a repeat cycle of only 15 minutes mean MSG satellites can provide 20 times the information of first-generation geostationary satellites.