In 1960, the United States placed the first experimental weather satellite, Tiros I, into low-Earth orbit. This pioneer programme provided nearly 23,000 images, demonstrating the value of space technology for meteorological research by giving meteorologists their first precise view of the entire globe.

In 1968, researchers at the Laboratory of Dynamic Meteorology of the CNRS (National Scientific Research Centre) proposed to CNES to study a meteorological observation satellite project. The definition phase of the study showed that the French national budget would be insufficient, so CNES offered its European partners the chance to participate in the programme.

Meteosat 1 was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on 23 November 1977 aboard the US Thor-Delta launcher. In 1981, Meteosat 2 was a passenger payload on the Ariane 1 launcher. It was shut down in 1983, marking the end of the experimentation phase and the qualification of the satellite.