ESA title
Applications

MetOp-A gets green light for 17 July launch date

27/06/2006 931 views 0 likes
ESA / Applications / Observing the Earth

MetOp-A has successfully completed the first phase of testing at the Baikonur Space Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, confirming the launch date of the first European polar-orbiting satellite dedicated to operational meteorology for 17 July 2006.

With an array of sophisticated instrumentation, MetOp-A – jointly established by ESA and the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) – promises to provide data of unprecedented accuracy and resolution on a host of different variables such as temperature and humidity, wind speed and direction, ozone and other trace gases.

MetOp's Payload Module waiting for integration and testing
MetOp's Payload Module waiting for integration and testing

Since the arrival of the MetOp-A satellite at its launch site in Baikonur on 18 April 2006, the Service Module, Payload Module and Solar Array, which were shipped as individual items, have been integrated and tested.

Following a review of the satellite status and results of the testing to date, together with the outputs of EUMETSAT’s review of the readiness of the ground segment, launcher and overall system, EUMETSAT and ESA authorised EADS Astrium on 17 June to commence the MetOp-A satellite fuelling activities, marking a milestone in the EUMETSAT Polar System (EPS) programme.

Following the completion of the MetOp-A fuelling, the satellite will be integrated with the so-called Fregat upper stage before being encapsulated in the fairing. The resulting upper composite will then be integrated with the Soyuz launcher and the complete system will be rolled out to the launch pad three days prior to the launch.

Soyuz launcher
Soyuz launcher

The MetOp programme, which consists of three satellites to be flown sequentially to ensure the delivery of continuous data until at least 2020, forms the space segment of the EPS programme and represents the European contribution to a new cooperative venture with the American National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Until MetOp-A launches, meteorological data from polar-orbiting satellites has had to be procured from NOAA weather satellites. After the launch, responsibilities for meteorological satellite services will be shared between Europe and the United States.

Consequently, through the Initial Joint Polar Satellite System (IJPS), which is a cooperative venture between EUMETSAT and NOAA, MetOp-A has been designed to work in conjunction with the NOAA satellite system, whereby MetOp-A replaces the NOAA 'morning orbit' service whilst a NOAA satellite occupies the 'afternoon shift'.

MetOp's polar orbit
MetOp's polar orbit

This means that the two satellites fly in complementary orbits, thus offering maximum coverage. This global observing system is able to provide invaluable meteorological data from polar orbit to users within 2 hours and 15 minutes of the measurements being taken.

MetOp-A is equipped with a set of new-generation European instruments that offer advanced remote sensing capabilities to both meteorologists and climatologists along with a set of 'heritage' instruments provided by NOAA and the French Space Agency (CNES).

In addition to its meteorological observations and climate monitoring objectives, MetOp-A will contribute to other missions, such as research and rescue and the monitoring of charged particles present in the orbital environment near Earth.

The MetOp-A satellite was developed by a consortium of European companies led by the main contractor EADS-Astrium, France.

Related Links

Applications

MetOp launch status

783 views 0 likes
Read
MetOp in vertical position
Applications

Europe's first polar-orbiting weather satellite ready for l…

16/10/2006 600 views 0 likes
Read
Upper-composite and third-stage being coupled
Applications

Integration of MetOp upper-composite and third-stage comple…

13/10/2006 553 views 0 likes
Read
MetOp upper-composite being lifted onto the train
Applications

Safe arrival at the launch facility for MetOp

11/10/2006 573 views 0 likes
Read
MetOp encapsulation
Applications

MetOp encapsulated in fairing

10/10/2006 749 views 0 likes
Read
MetOp joins the Fregat upper-stage
Applications

MetOp integrated with Fregat upper-stage

26/09/2006 1089 views 0 likes
Read
Cleaning the GOME-2 instrument
Applications

MetOp launch campaign resumed

19/09/2006 613 views 0 likes
Read
MetOp in orbit
Agency

MetOp to be launched in October

07/08/2006 769 views 0 likes
Read
MetOp on the launch pad
Agency

Launch of MetOp-A postponed

20/07/2006 813 views 0 likes
Read
Roll-out to the launch pad
Applications

MetOp ready for launch

17/07/2006 754 views 0 likes
Read
Upper-composite moved out of UCIF
Applications

Upper-composite transferred to launcher integration facility

14/07/2006 699 views 0 likes
Read
MetOp ready for encapsulation
Applications

Last-ever look at MetOp

11/07/2006 772 views 0 likes
Read
MetOp being lifted by crane
Applications

MetOp joins Fregat upper-stage

07/07/2006 1002 views 0 likes
Read
MetOp leaving the HPF
Agency

MetOp fuelled and pressurised

04/07/2006 764 views 0 likes
Read
MetOp in UCIF
Applications

MetOp-A gets green light for 17 July launch date

27/06/2006 931 views 0 likes
Read
AMSU-A1 installation
Applications

MetOp – last phase of testing before launch

22/06/2006 706 views 0 likes
Read
MetOp's arrival at Baikonur
Agency

MetOp satellite shipped to Baikonur on 18 April

19/04/2006 1108 views 0 likes
Read
Soyuz launch
Agency

Soyuz launch vehicle

0 views 0 likes
Read