MetOp-A Satellite VNR June 2006

This video focuses on MetOp-A, Europe's first polar-orbiting satellite dedicated to operational meteorology. The video explains that MetOp-A represents the European contribution to a new cooperative venture with the United States (NOAA) to provide data that will be used to monitor our climate and improve weather forecasting. A new generation of European instruments will be carried with a set of 'heritage' instruments provided by the U.S. They will augment the accuracy of: temperature and humidity measurements; wind speed and wind direction measurements; and profiles of ozone in the atmosphere. MetOp is a series of three satellites to be launched sequentially, starting in 2006 with MetOp-A, and forms the space segment of EUMETSAT's Polar System (EPS). ESA MetOp-A Project Manager Peter Edwards and EUMETSAT Programme Manager Marc Cohen both give soundbites, explaining various aspects of the mission. The satellite is shown in the clean room.