Beyond Gravity has supplied a range of mission-critical components for Meteosat Third Generation-Imager 2 (MTG-I2), the latest European weather satellite launched on August 27, 2026, aboard an Ariane 62 rocket from French Guiana. The company’s contributions include the satellite’s central computer and thermal insulation, as well as a carbon-covered aluminum honeycomb payload fairing for the Ariane 6 launcher.
MTG-I2 is the second imaging satellite in the six-satellite MTG constellation, which will comprise four imaging satellites and two sounder satellites. Once operational, the constellation is expected to provide weather imagery over Europe every 2.5 minutes, supporting earlier detection and forecasting of severe weather events such as thunderstorms. Two MTG satellites are already operational, following launches in 2022 and 2025.
Beyond Gravity developed the central computers for all six MTG satellites at its Gothenburg, Sweden, facility. The computers manage functions including attitude and orbit control and telecommand execution. The company also supplied the Data Distribution Unit for processing instrument data and Ka-band and S-band antennas for communications.
The 3,800-kg satellite is protected by multilayer thermal insulation developed and produced in Austria. The insulation uses several layers of thin, metal-coated plastic to handle temperature fluctuations of approximately ±200°C in space. Beyond Gravity also supplied solar-array alignment mechanisms and refocusing mechanisms, while its Vienna facility produced a roughly 1-meter-diameter camera cover that protects the instruments during launch.
Composite materials also play a major role in the Ariane 6 launch hardware. Beyond Gravity’s 5.4-meter-diameter payload fairing consists of two half-shells made from carbon-covered aluminum honeycomb panels. The lightweight structure protects the satellite during atmospheric ascent before being jettisoned approximately three minutes after liftoff. Beyond Gravity also supplied the Ariane 6 payload adapter, high-temperature insulation, and an upper-stage gimbal mechanism.
The MTG program is a collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and EUMETSAT, with Thales Alenia Space serving as prime contractor for the imaging satellites and OHB System AG responsible for the six satellite platforms. Beyond Gravity employs approximately 1,900 people across 12 locations in six countries and generated around CHF 402 million in revenue in 2025.
Source: Beyond Gravity | News
