In 1960

the first meteorological satellite was launched into space

demonstrating the feasibility of observing global weather systems with space technology. Today

the capabilities of meteorological satellites and remote sensing instruments have developed enormously

to the point where geostationary meteorological satellites can complete local observations every minute and polar orbiting meteorological satellites can observe the Earth’s atmosphere not only in the ultraviolet

visible

infrared

but also in microwave spectra. With the development of space technology in the past half century

meteorologists have experienced the increasing demands for the sophisticated use of meteorological satellite data. With the framework of World Meteorological Organization

the meteorological satellite constellation operated by many countries and government agencies plays an essential role in weather forecast

climate analysis

environment and disaster monitoring

etc. This paper first provides an overview of the history of meteorological satellites

with a focus on American

European

and Chinese polarorbiting and geostationary meteorological satellites

including the NOAA

GOSE

METOP

Meteosat

Fengyun

etc. This overview illustrate show meteorological satellite observation has developed from photographic to digital

from optical to microwave

and from imaging to sounding. The second part of this paper reviews the progress of satellite data applications by introducing image interpretation

quantitative data analysis

and data assimilation

as well as the scientists who made significant contributions to the methodology of data application

including Roger B. Weldon

Vernon F. Dvorak

and James Purdom. It explain show the application of satellite data has reached its maturity along with the development of space technology and how it has been integrated fully into many areas of atmospheric sciences

especially in weather forecasting. With regard to the importance of calibration for the usefulness of satellite data

the national calibration programs launched by America

France

and China are also presented. The future holds great challenges in the development of a global atmospheric observation system. Considering that some studies have published satellite development plans

we conclude the paper by highlighting geostationary microwave observation

atmospheric dynamic observation

and radiometric calibration reference satellite techniques that are currently not listed in the plans approved by meteorological satellite operators. The geostationary microwave sounder can provide high-frequency thermal structure information of ever-moving cloud systems

which is crucial to now casting. Atmosphere dynamic observation can solve the middle-scale forecast problem caused by the lack of an atmospheric wind profile

and radiometric calibration satellites are designed to establish a space-based radiometric reference for the calibration of all remote sensing satellites. These three components could become milestones in the development of meteorological satellites in the future.