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ESA / Applications / Observing the Earth / Meteorological missions / MetOp

 

Launches MetOp-A: 2006 from Kazakhstan on Soyuz
MetOp-B: 2012 from Kazakhstan on Soyuz
MetOp-C: 2018 from French Guiana on Soyuz
Dimensions 6.2 x 3.4 x 3.4 m (under the launcher fairing)
17.6x6.5x5.2 metres (deployed in orbit)
4083 Kg at launch, including 314 Kg of fuel
Orbit Polar, Sun-synchronous orbit
Altitude Approximately 817 km
Instruments Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A (AMSU-A)
measures temperature of atmosphere (NOAA)  
Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT)
measures surface wind speed over the ocean (Eumetsat/ESA)
Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR/3)
images clouds, the ocean and land surfaces (NOAA)
Global Navigation Satellite System Receiver for Atmospheric Sounding (GRAS) 
measures temperature of upper troposphere and stratosphere (Eumetsat/ESA)
Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI)
measures temperature and humidity (CNES)
Microwave Humidity Sounder (MHS)
measures humidity (Eumetsat)
Space Environment Monitor (SEM)
measures charged particles (NOAA)
Advanced Data Collection (ARGOS)
for location and dissemination of measurements (CNES)
Mission control Eumetsat, Darmstadt, Germany
Launch and early orbit phase via ESA's European Satellite Operations Centre in Darmstadt
Data Downloaded to Eumetsat Polar System stations in Svalbard (Norway) and U.S. McMurdo in Antarctica
Data processed at Eumetsat
Applications Operational meteorology and climate research
Prime contractor Airbus Defence and Space

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