MSG-3 has a FiFa 14 coins resolution of a kilometre in visible ghtwavelengths, and three kilometres in infrared. It can scan 12 different wavelengths of ght every 15 minutes,allowing it to track developing storms and measuretemperatures.
Along with its weather-watching equipment, it carries a pair ofother useful tools. The Global Earth Radiation Budget sensormeasures the amount of energy radiated back into space from theEarth's surface, allowing us to get a better idea of how much heat is being lost to space. Plus, a search and rescuetransponder allows the satelte to become a relay for distresssignals.
In ten days, on 16 July, initial operations will be completed,and MSG-3 will be in place over west Africa. At that point, it'llbe handed over to its owner, EUMETSAT, to beginoperations.
The final satelte in the four-strong Meteosatsecond-generation series will launch in 2015.