Programme Master Schedule
The early years (1984 - 1993)
After a definition process started by ESA in 1984, EUMETSAT decided in 1990 to initiate its MSG programme. The MSG Programme foresaw the launch of the first MSG satellite to ensure the continuity of the geostationary service at the end of the Meteosat Transition Programme. Feasibility studies (the so-called Phase A) were then conducted in the years until 1993 when the full programme activities of EUMETSAT and ESA commenced.
Deployment of the programmes (1994 - 1998)
The preliminary definition of the system and its segments, the satellite and the ground infrastructure, was conducted in 1994/1995, followed by the start of the detailed definition in mid-1995. The cooperative efforts between ESA and EUMETSAT were laid down in an agreement in early 1994, extended in late 1996 to cover the procurement of recurrent satellites. In 1994, EUMETSAT concluded as well a frame agreement with the company Arianespace for the provision of the launch services for MSG. The development of the satellite started in mid-1995, leading to a review of its preliminary design in 1996. After a Ground Segment Design Review held in December 1996, EUMETSAT initiated the procurement of the various ground facilities through a series of open tender actions. Design and critical pre-development activities were completed up to the second half of 1998; they were closed for both the satellite and the ground segment via successful Critical Design Reviews (CDR), which released the full production of the satellite and the ground facilities.
Building the system (1999 - 2002)
The System Critical Design Review (CDR) was held in late 1999. The first representative version of the satellite, the engineering model was assembled and tested in 1998/1999 followed by the Qualification Result Review (QRR) in early 2000. The first flight model satellite was assembled and tested in 1999/2000 followed by the start of Flight Acceptance Review (FAR) process in second half of 2000. Integration of the ground facilities started in the second half of 1999, followed by complete testing in 2000/2001. The complete system, composed of the ground infrastructure and its interaction with the satellite, was operationally prepared in 2002. A proposal to extend the MSG programme was prepared by the end of 2002, and the procurement of a fourth satellite, MSG-4, was initiated. In addition to MSG-4, the programme extension will cover a fully recurrent GERB instrument as well as the LEOP service. It will also include an extension of the MSG system operations and SAF initial operations.
Deployment and service of the system (2002-2004)
The first satellite, MSG-1, was launched on August 28 2003. The transition from Meteosat First Generation to Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) started after successful commissioning of the MSG system (with the MSG-1 satellite) and ended by the end of January 2004. During this transition period both first and second-generation systems were operated in parallel to facilitate the transition on the users side in the first years. The MSG system will be established in its complete two-satellite configuration (one operational and the other one as a hot backup) after the successful commissioning of MSG-2, which is scheduled to be launched 23 August 2005. After disposal of all first generation satellites, the MSG system will be the only EUMETSAT geostationary system.
According to plan, MSG-3 will be launched in 2009.
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