Paris – The European Space Agency (ESA) announced today that the MTG-I2 satellite has successfully reached its final geostationary orbit, positioning itself approximately 36,000 kilometers above the Earth’s surface. The advanced weather satellite is now entering its critical testing and commissioning phase ahead of full operations.

Launched in July aboard an Ariane 6 rocket, the MTG-I2 has officially joined its sister satellites, MTG-I1 and MTG-S1, forming a powerful constellation dedicated to continuous weather and atmospheric monitoring from space.

Over the coming months, MTG-I2 will undergo a rigorous series of tests and instrument calibrations to ensure all onboard systems are fully optimized. Upon the successful completion of this phase, operational control will be handed over to the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT). EUMETSAT is the governing body responsible for operating Europe’s fleet of weather and climate satellites, tasked with providing real-time data to meteorological services globally.

As the second imaging satellite in the state-of-the-art third-generation system developed jointly by ESA and EUMETSAT, the MTG-I2 is designed to revolutionize weather forecasting. Once it enters active service, the satellite will deliver unprecedented, high-resolution imagery and data on atmospheric conditions, cloud formations, and storm developments.

This enhanced flow of accurate data will be vital for meteorologists, significantly improving routine weather forecasting and the real-time monitoring of fast-developing, extreme weather events across Europe and North Africa.