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EUMETSAT operates geostationary and sun-synchronous polar orbiting satellites through mandatory programmes in order to provide space observations for operational meteorology and climate monitoring. Optional programmes providing observations for altimetry and oceanography complement these mandatory programmes. The User community can access data and products from partner agencies through EUMETSAT third party programmes. The current fleet of EUMETSAT’s operational geostationary spacecraft is composed of the four satellites of the Second Generation of Meteosat (MSG), Meteosat-8, Meteosat-9, Meteosat-10 and Meteosat-11. Meteosat-11 is currently the the prime operational satellite. Meteosat-8 contributes to the IODC service. The EUMETSAT Polar System (EPS) provides data from sun-synchronous polar orbit since 2016. The current operational satellites, Metop-B, launched in September 2012 and the prime satellite, and Metop-A, the first of the series, in orbit since October 2006 were complemented in November 2018 by the third and last of this series of three satellites, Metop-C. These satellites are part of the Initial Joint Polar System (IJPS) together with the US. In the frame of an optional programme Jason-2 and Jason-3, continue to provide altimetry data. The Jason-CS mission will assure continuity for altimetry. To assure continuity in the mandatory missions. Development of Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) is ongoing and will assure the continuity of the mandatory geostationary mission. The development of the second generation of the EUMETSAT Polar System (EPS-SG) is further continuing. In the frame of the Copernicus Programme EUMETSAT operates the Sentinel-3A satellite and provides operational marine products. Sentinel-3B, a second satellite, is scheduled was launched in the first half of 2018 and is coming to the end of its commissioning phase.
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