The core instrument on board Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) is called SEVIRI (Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager). This imaging radiometer permanently scans the atmosphere and the Earth's surface within the visible and the infrared spectrum of light. Using a patented three-mirror telescope with a scan assembly and a cooler unit, it generates a high-resolution image in just 15 minutes. The incoming radiation is sensed by the detector in 12 channels, depending on the wavelength, each channel representing a different type of information. SEVIRI was developed by the European Space Agency and built by Astrium Space.