MetOp

Carrying an impressive suite of instruments, the MetOp series of satellites are among the largest Earth-observation satellites built in Europe. There are three satellites in the series, launched sequentially to ensure continuous observations for numerical weather prediction – the basis for weather forecasting. They also contribute to climate research. Orbiting from pole to pole, about 800 km above Earth’s surface, they provide detailed vertical temperature and humidity profiles, images of land, water and clouds, information for monitoring ozone in the atmosphere, measurements of wind over the ocean surface, and more. MetOp-A was launched in 2006, MetOp-B in 2012 and MetOp-C is set for liftoff in November 2018. The MetOp satellites were developed by ESA under a cooperation agreement to form the space segment of the Eumetsat Polar System. This system is Europe’s contribution to a multi-orbit polar system shared with the US NOAA agency.