The presentation provides an update on the satellite programmes of EUMETSAT. The highlight has been the approval of the future Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) programme. MTG consists of a series of four imaging satellites with an advanced Flexible Combined Imager (FCI) and a lightning imager (LI) and two sounding satellites with a an infrared hyperspectral sounder (IRS) and a spectrometer measuring trace gases and aerosol in the UV, visible and near-infrared part of the spectrum (UVN). The first MTG imaging satellite (MTG-I) is expected to be launched by the end of 2017 and will be followed by the first sounding satellite (MTG-S) in 2019. Until then two more Meteosat satellites of the second generation will be launched. The next launch (Meteosat-10) is already due in 2012.

In regards to the EUMETSAT Polar System (EPS) (Metop satellites) emphasis is on the preparations of the Metop-B launch currently expected for the 2nd quarter of 2012. The presentation will also recall recent improvements to products and operations. In June 2011 the Antarctic Data Acquisition (ADA) went into an operational demonstration phase where data from Metop-A are dumped over the US McMurdo Ground Station in Antarctica in addition to the existing data dump to the EUMETSAT Svalbard ground station in the Arctic. This now provides the Metop data every half orbit implying that end-users will have much faster access to Metop data.

The EPS Second Generation (EPS SG) Programme is progressing in its Phase A (feasibility studies) and important interactions are currently taking place with EUMETSAT member states to enable the start of Phase B in 2012. Those are expected to have converged at the time of the Annual AMS meeting in 2012.

The update on ocean missions in which EUMETSAT is involved, recalls that the Jason-2 mission had its 3rd anniversary in June 2011; it is part of the Ocean Surface Topography Mission (OSTM) measuring the global sea surface height. The OSTM is an international partnership including CNES, the US agencies NASA and NOAA and EUMETSAT. A status of the follow-on OSTM missions will be included. Another important milestone in 2011 was the evaluation of proposals of EUMETSAT SAFs (Satellite Application Facilities) for the 2nd slice of the Continuous Development and Operations Phase (CDOP-2) covering five years and starting in March 2012. The related cooperation agreements have been agreed by the EUMETSAT Council and signed with the SAF Lead Entities in 2011.

Finally the paper briefly mentions EUMETSAT's contribution to climate observations, and reports in more detail on the developments and utilization of satellite data and products and the impact on services, notably the impact on global Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP)