From MSG to MTG, Cost-Effective Operations of a Complex System

Abstract

EUMETSAT, the EUropean organisation for the exploitation of METeorological SATellites exploits since 1977 the METEOSAT series and, since 2004 the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) satellites which deliver meteorological observations from geostationary orbit with stringent data timeliness and operational availability requirements. The Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) programme will take over MSG, starting in 2017 for the next 20 years, as an answer to the expanding needs for satellite based meteorological data due to the continuous development of Numerical Weather Prediction capabilities. The paper is introducing the main aspects of the cost effective approach that has driven the system specification activity and hence led to operations characteristics of the MTG system. A presentation of the major technical and programmatic drivers for the anticipated MTG operations is proposed, including for instance, the high degree of ground and space operations automation, the increased satellite autonomy, satellites co-location, the optimisation of TM/TC antenna usage, the remote accessibility to the system monitoring capabilities from outside the control rooms, the introduction or re-use of multi-programme ground segment facilities. Evolutions since the MSG operations concept elaborated before the launch are also provided where appropriate to highlight the evolution from the current programme to the next one.