The European Space Agency (ESA) has made a significant contribution in the field of remote sensing from space, beginning in 1972 in the field of weather forecasting with the development of its preoperational meteorological satellites ‘Meteosat’. The launch on 6 March 1989 of the first operational Meteosai, which will be followed by the launch of two more satellites, will provide continuity of service until the mid 1990s. This will be followed by the second generation Meteosat which will be developed in partnership with EUMETSAT. Following The Hague Ministerial Council of November 1987, the Agency now has endorsement of a long term plan for Earth observation building upon the European Remote Sensing Satellite (ERS-1) programme: to be followed by a similar climate monitoring satellite which will lead in turn to the era of the Polar Platform.