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[TECHNOLOGY] · France · 8 sources

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MTG-I2 satellite launch completes Meteosat Third Generation constellation

The MTG-I2 (Meteosat Third Generation Imager-2) satellite successfully launched on August 28 from the European Spaceport in Kourou. Carried by an Ariane 6 rocket during its ninth mission, the launch completes the first operational trio of the Meteosat Third Generation constellation.

Positioned 36,000 kilometers above the equator, the satellite is designed to provide continuous weather monitoring for Europe, the Mediterranean, and North Africa. A significant technological advancement is its scanning capability; the satellite will scan the upper quadrant of the Earth, centered on Europe, every two and a half minutes. Meteorologist Panos Giannopoulos noted that this frequency of data collection has not been achieved previously, even by the United States.

This increased data density is expected to significantly improve short-term weather forecasting and disaster prediction. However, the volume of information may exceed human analytical capacity, suggesting that artificial intelligence will be necessary to fully utilize the satellite's capabilities. The new generation also features a lightning detector capable of capturing 1,000 samples per second.

Entities

ESA · EUMETSAT · Kourou · Meteosat Third Generation · Panos Giannopoulos

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