MSG-2 in position for tonight's launch

Europe's latest weather satellite has been successfully rolled-out to its launch
zone atop its Ariane 5. The latest Meteosat Second Generation satellite, MSG-2,
is due to launch from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana at 11:33 CET tonight.

Full story:

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/MSG/SEMRR98A9HE_0.html

Europe’s newest Meteosat launches on Solstice Night

The second member of Europe's new generation of weather satellites has successfully been lifted onto orbit, continuing an uninterrupted series of launch successes since 1977.

More at:

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/MSG/SEMFKC8A9HE_0.html

I love watching Ariane 5 webcasts, the commentary team are hillarious...they dont MEAN to be, but they are

Doug

Photo of the latest Ariane 5 launch:

http://www.universetoday.com/am/uploads/esa_meteosat.jpg

This first image of the Earth acquired by the MSG-2 satellite was unveiled on 24
January. MSG-2, developed on behalf of EUMETSAT under the aegis of the European
Space Agency, was launched from the Guiana Space Centre, Europe’s spaceport, in
Kourou, French Guiana, on 21 December 2005.

Full story:

http://www.esa.int/esaEO/SEM1G4NZCIE_index_0.html

This first MSG-2 satellite colour image of the planet Earth was acquired on 25 January.

It follows the MSG-2 first image, in black and white, which was unveiled on 24
January.

More at:

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/MSG/SEM1G4NZCIE_0.html

First images from GERB

The Geostationary Earth Radiation Budget (GERB) onboard the MSG-2 satellite
captured its first images on 1 February 2006. These twin images measure our
planet’s emitted thermal and reflected or scattered solar energy.

Read more at:

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/MSG/SEMMDKNZCIE_0.html