Belgium invests in European weather satellite programme to improve forecasting

Belgium is taking part in a new European programme aimed at launching twenty weather satellites to significantly improve the accuracy of weather forecasts. The project involves an investment of €24.3 million for Belgium over the period 2025–2042, according to Minister for Science Policy Vanessa Matz (Les Engagés).

More precise weather forecasting is crucial for predicting extreme events such as storms, heatwaves, floods and droughts. Improved forecasts help authorities take timely measures to protect both the population and infrastructure. Accurate weather data is also essential for the economy, as around one third of economic sectors — including energy, transport, construction, agriculture, tourism and aviation — are highly weather-dependent, the minister explained.

The new satellite series, named “Sterna”, is designed to enhance forecasting capabilities across all these domains. One of its key advantages is improved observation of the polar regions, which are currently poorly monitored but play a crucial role in global weather systems. Better polar observations will help close existing gaps in global weather data and improve long-term forecasts.

The satellites are being developed within EUMETSAT, the European intergovernmental organisation for meteorological satellites. Belgium’s Royal Meteorological Institute (KMI) will make use of the data they provide. For the construction of the satellites, EUMETSAT is working in cooperation with the European Space Agency (ESA).

The first six satellites are scheduled to be launched in 2029 and will orbit the Earth at an altitude of approximately 800 kilometres in low Earth orbit.

Source: EUMETSAT – ESA – Belga