# Meteosat First Generation

> first generation model of European weather satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q124062189](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q124062189)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/meteosat-first-generation

## Summary  
Meteosat First Generation is the inaugural series of European geostationary weather satellites, built by Aérospatiale and operated first by the European Space Agency (1977‑1995) and later by EUMETSAT (1995‑2017). The fleet entered service on 9 December 1977 and remained active until 31 March 2017, providing continuous weather monitoring for Europe and beyond.

## Key Facts  
- **Service entry:** 9 December 1977 【service_entry】  
- **Service retirement:** 31 March 2017 【service_retirement】  
- **Operator:** European Space Agency (1977‑1995) → EUMETSAT (1995‑2017) 【operator】  
- **Manufacturer:** Aérospatiale 【manufacturer】  
- **Classification:** Spacecraft model; subclass of weather satellite and geostationary satellite 【subclass_of】  
- **Part of:** Meteosat programme 【part_of】  
- **Has part(s):** Meteosat 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (all decommissioned) 【has_part(s)】  
- **Followed by:** Meteosat Second Generation 【followed_by】  
- **Orbit:** Geostationary orbit 【satellite_of】  
- **Aliases:** MFG, Meteosat Operational Programme (MOP), Meteosat Transition Programme (MTP) 【aliases】  

## FAQs  
### Q: When did Meteosat First Generation start and end its service?  
A: The first Meteosat satellite was launched into service on 9 December 1977 and the entire first‑generation fleet was retired on 31 March 2017.  

### Q: Which organizations operated the Meteosat First Generation?  
A: The European Space Agency operated the fleet from 1977 until 1995, after which EUMETSAT took over until the final retirement in 2017.  

### Q: What satellites belong to the Meteosat First Generation?  
A: The generation comprises seven individual satellites: Meteosat 1 through Meteosat 7, all of which have been decommissioned.  

## Why It Matters  
Meteosat First Generation laid the foundation for Europe’s modern meteorological observation capabilities. By placing a series of geostationary satellites over the continent, it delivered near‑real‑time imaging of cloud cover, atmospheric moisture, and weather systems, dramatically improving forecasting accuracy for civilian, aviation, and maritime users. Its 40‑year operational lifespan demonstrated the reliability of European satellite engineering and fostered international collaboration in climate monitoring. The data legacy continues to support climate research, while the program’s success directly enabled the development of the more advanced Meteosat Second Generation, ensuring Europe remains at the forefront of space‑based weather services.

## Notable For  
- **First European geostationary weather satellite series** – pioneered continuous regional weather observation from space.  
- **Longest‑running European weather satellite fleet** – 40 years of uninterrupted service (1977‑2017).  
- **Dual‑phase operation** – transitioned from ESA to EUMETSAT, illustrating successful handover between agencies.  
- **Comprehensive fleet** – seven individual satellites (Meteosat 1‑7) covering a broad temporal span.  
- **Manufactured by Aérospatiale** – showcased European aerospace industry capabilities.

## Body  

### Overview  
Meteosat First Generation is a spacecraft model designed as a weather satellite and placed in a geostationary orbit. It belongs to the broader Meteosat programme, which aims to provide continuous meteorological data for Europe.

### Development & Manufacture  
- **Manufacturer:** Aérospatiale, a French aerospace contractor, built the satellite bus and payload.  
- **Design purpose:** To monitor weather and climate from a fixed position above the equator, enabling constant imaging of the European region.

### Operational History  
- **Entry into service:** 9 December 1977, marking the start of Europe’s dedicated geostationary weather observation.  
- **Operator timeline:**  
  - 1977‑1995: European Space Agency (ESA) managed launch, control, and data distribution.  
  - 1995‑2017: EUMETSAT assumed responsibility, continuing data provision and satellite maintenance.  
- **Retirement:** The final satellite of the series was decommissioned on 31 March 2017 after four decades of service.

### Satellite Fleet (Has part(s))  
| Satellite | Status | Notes |
|-----------|--------|-------|
| Meteosat 1 | Decommissioned | First in the series |
| Meteosat 2 | Decommissioned | |
| Meteosat 3 | Decommissioned | |
| Meteosat 4 | Decommissioned | |
| Meteosat 5 | Decommissioned | |
| Meteosat 6 | Decommissioned | |
| Meteosat 7 | Decommissioned | |

All seven satellites operated sequentially or in overlapping periods to ensure continuous coverage.

### Technical Classification  
- **Instance of:** Spacecraft model.  
- **Subclass of:**  
  - Weather satellite – designed for atmospheric observation.  
  - Geostationary satellite – maintains a fixed position relative to Earth’s surface.  
- **Orbit:** Geostationary orbit, enabling constant view of the same Earth region.

### Legacy & Successor  
Meteosat First Generation was succeeded by the Meteosat Second Generation, which introduced higher‑resolution imaging and advanced instrumentation. The data archive from the first generation remains valuable for long‑term climate studies.

## Schema Markup  

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Meteosat First Generation",
  "description": "First generation model of European weather satellite.",
  "url": "https://www.eumetsat.int/meteosat-first-generation-retired",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/EUMETSAT_Meteosat_model.jpg"
  ],
  "additionalType": "SpacecraftModel"
}

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/meteosat-1.htm)
2. [Source](https://www.eumetsat.int/meteosat-first-generation-retired)