European Space Agency (ESA), following the decision of the EUMETSAT Council to proceed with a Post-MSG User Consultation Process. The process is aimed at capturing the foreseeable needs of users of EUMETSAT's satellite data in the 2015-2025 timeframe. On 19 March 2010, ESA chose Thales Alenia Space for a final negotiation leading to a contract to be signed during June. On 22 June 2010, EUMETSAT confirmed the choice of Thales Alenia Space. On 24 February 2012, the development contract between ESA and Thales Alenia Space was signed by Mr. Liebig and Mr. Seznec. Thales Alenia Space leads the industrial consortium that is now building the MTG family. Along with being the prime contractor, Thales Alenia Space is responsible for the MTG-I imaging satellite, including the primary payload, the Flexible Combined Imager. Bremen-based OHB is responsible for the MTG-S satellites and provision of the common satellite platforms, supported by Astrium GmbH as the System Architect. A total of 6 satellites are being developed under the MTG contract. Four MTG-I imaging satellites, as well as two MTG-S sounder satellites. The launch of the first MTG satellite, Meteosat-12 (MTG-I1), occurred on 13 December 2022, at 20:30 UTC. References EUMETSAT Krige, John. "Crossing the Interface from R&D to Operational Use: The Case of the European Meteorological Satellite," Technology and Culture, Volume 41, Number 1, January 2000, pp. 27–50. External links Meteosat Series of Satellites WMO OSCAR | Space Agency: EUMETSAT Compare Meteosat images with other meteorological satellites Earth observation satellites of the European Space Agency Weather satellites Ariane commercial payloads European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites Satellites in geosynchronous orbit Data collection satellites