Since MTG-I2 was taken out of its protective casing at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana at the beginning of July, the satellite has undergone a ‘fit check’ with its launch vehicle adapter.

This is a physical and functional verification of the interfaces between the satellite and the launch adapter, in which the satellite and the launch adapter are mounted together in the real launch configuration. This ensures that everything fits correctly before the actual launch, avoiding mechanical, electrical or procedural problems.

The satellite will improve data for weather forecasts in Europe and in North Africa with its two powerful imagers. One is the Flexible Combined Imager, which provides a rapid scanning service every 2.5 minutes over Europe. The other instrument on board MTG-I2 is the Lightning Imager. This is also an innovative and powerful instrument, able to capture individual lightning events, by day and night.

As well as providing a huge increase in the quality, quantity and frequency of data for European weather forecasting, the MTG instruments also provide climate data.

The satellite will be transported into orbit by Ariane 6.