Teledyne Space Imaging, a unit of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE: TDY), announced the launch of the Meteosat Third Generation Imager-2 (MTG-I2) satellite, which carries its CIS111 detector within the Flexible Combined Imager (FCI) instrument.

MTG-I2 launched aboard an Ariane 6 rocket at 21:11 BST on August 27 from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. The satellite is operated by EUMETSAT as part of the Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) programme.

The CIS111 is a five-channel, radiation-hardened integrated sensor assembly featuring rhombus-shaped pixels measuring up to 100 x 100 microns. The device incorporates a proprietary black coating process developed by Teledyne Space Imaging to reduce internal reflections. According to the company, the detector was engineered for continuous Earth observation from geostationary orbit.

"The CIS111 was specifically engineered to meet the demanding requirements of continuous Earth observation from geostationary orbit, incorporating a unique large pixel architecture and radiation hardened design," said Jérôme Pratlong, designer of the CIS111 and Head of Strategy & Technology at Teledyne Space Imaging.

MTG-I2 is the second of four planned MTG-I satellites. The first, MTG-I1, launched in December 2022 and is now designated Meteosat-12. The remaining two satellites in the constellation are scheduled for launch in 2032 and 2036.

The MTG system is designed to support weather forecasting, climate monitoring, lightning detection across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, and numerical weather prediction, according to a company press release.