Europe’s next-generation weather satellite sends back first images (esa.int)

Article summary

The European Space Agency's Meteosat Third Generation-Sounder satellite has sent back its first images, providing data on temperature and humidity for more accurate weather forecasting over Europe and northern Africa. The satellite's Infrared Sounder instrument uses interferometric techniques to capture data on temperature and humidity, as well as wind and trace gases in the atmosphere. This data will be used to generate three-dimensional maps of the atmosphere, improving the accuracy of weather forecasting. The satellite is part of the Meteosat Third Generation mission, which aims to provide game-changing data for forecasting weather and air quality over Europe.

Main themes

• Weather forecasting
• European Space Agency
• Meteosat Third Generation
• Satellite technology
• Atmospheric data
• Space innovation

What commenters say

• The improvement in weather forecasting due to the new satellite's data is expected to be significant, but quantifying the exact improvement is challenging.
• The satellite's data will enable better nowcasting, which is critical for issuing local severe weather warnings and predicting storms.
• Some commenters believe that Europe is behind in launchers, but the data and technology sent up by European space agencies are top-notch and competitive.
• Others argue that European companies are not competing effectively with SpaceX and other US-based companies in the space industry, and that the Ariane 6 rocket program has been a disappointment.
• There is a discussion about the availability of data from the satellite, with some commenters suggesting that it will be freely available through Copernicus, while others note that some European weather models are not fully free.
• The comparison between US and European space agencies and companies reveals differing opinions on the competitiveness and innovation of each region's space industry.
• Some commenters note that the US has a more open approach to data sharing, with many weather models and data being freely available, whereas European agencies may be more restrictive.
• The development of the European space industry is seen as a positive trend, with many startups and companies emerging, but there are also concerns about the challenges they face in competing with established players.