MTG combined antenna

A UHF and L-band combination patch-array antenna being tested inside ESA’s Hertz chamber in September 2015. This prototype antenna is positioned on a mockup of part of a Meteosat Third Generation Imaging satellite, set for operation from 2020 onwards. The larger rectangular segment of antenna works at L-band frequencies to pick up meteorology data transmitted from Data Collection Platforms variously located on ships, ocean buoys, aircraft or balloons across the globe. The smaller antenna attached to the larger one has the vital task of picking up UHF distress signals from radio beacons belonging to the international Cospas–Sarsat system, so that they can be relayed to regional search and rescue systems.