Inside the EUMETSAT Polar System: Meet Yago Andrés

Meet Yago Andrés, the Ground Segment Technical Manager helping to shape EUMETSAT’s advanced EPS-SG polar-orbiting satellite mission

Following the launch of the first EPS-SG satellite, we’re highlighting the specialists making the mission possible. Ground Segment Technical Manager Yago Andrés shares insights into his work on Europe’s next-generation polar-orbiting system.

Last Updated

19 December 2025

Published on

19 December 2025

On a family holiday in the mid-nineties, Yago Andrés visited the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C. A university student studying aerospace, aeronautical and astronautical engineering in Madrid at the time, Andrés was fascinated by all things space. He pored over the Apollo 11 command module Columbia, the living quarters for the mission’s three astronauts, Neil Armstrong’s space suit, and the Apollo Lunar Sample Return Container, an aluminum box in which the astronauts transported the first samples of moon rock and soil to Earth.

After a short time, Andrés’ parents and sister were ready to leave the museum and see the city’s other sights but Andrés was only getting started.

“‘OK, come pick me up in the evening, I’ll stay here the rest of the day,’” Andrés told his family. “And then I remember staying there alone for the whole rest of the day. I could not think of anything more fascinating to see in Washington D.C. than all the amazing things in that museum.”

Since then, Andrés has been putting his expertise in satellites to good use at EUMETSAT, first as an engineer and, most recently, as the EUMETSAT Polar System – Second Generation (EPS-SG) Ground Segment Technical Manager.

Yago Andrés, EPS-SG Ground Segment Technical Manager

The EPS-SG ground segment can be subdivided into two different components. One part consists of several antennas across Europe including in Svalbard, a Norwegian polar archipelago, and in Antarctica. These antennas receive scientific data from the satellites and both receive signals from and send commands to the satellites to control them and monitor their health. The other part consists of the Mission Control Centre in Darmstadt, where satellite scientific data are processed and distributed to the users such as national weather agencies and ground segment controllers ensure the satellites’ health and continued communication with them.

Before the launch of the first EPS-SG satellite, Metop Second Generation A1, on 16 August 2025, Andrés and his team were responsible for ensuring that the technical aspects of the ground segment were ready. Now, he continues to ensure they work smoothly, and coordinates the wide network of ground segment experts and infrastructure. This entails a broad range of tasks, from ensuring security requirements for the ground segment are met to mediating any conflicts that may arise.

“Taking all the elements into account, you sometimes need to make some compromises,” he said. “Part of my job to put the different teams together and agree on a solution that serves everyone.”

Now that the satellite has been launched successfully, and images or data from all instruments have been received, Andrés is feeling very grateful.

“This is one of the most rewarding parts about working in the space sector, to get these types of adrenaline-rush moments during the launch and in the early phases after that,” he said.

“But best of all, of course, is to see that my past work has contributed to something useful.”