N° 33–2018: Europe’s third polar-orbiting weather satellite lofted into orbit

Carrying the 4083 kg MetOp-C satellite, the Soyuz rocket lifted off on 7 November at 00:47 GMT (01:47 CET). Some 60 minutes later Soyuz’s upper stage delivered MetOp-C into orbit and contact was established through the Yatharagga ground station in Australia.

MetOp-C is the last in the current series of MetOp satellites, following on from MetOp-A, which was launched in 2006, and MetOp-B, which was launched in 2012.

The MetOp satellites are 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.

Stéfane Carlier, ESA’s MetOp Project Manager, noted, “The MetOp satellites carry an array of sensors that measure temperature, humidity, trace gases, ozone and wind speed over the ocean.”

Josef Aschbacher, ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programmes, said, “The MetOp programme demonstrates the value of cooperation – something that has been achieved by ESA and Eumetsat working together.

“ESA’s role is to design, build and launch the satellites fulfilling Eumetsat requirements. The satellites carry instruments developed in Europe and in the US.

“MetOp-A was Europe’s first weather satellite to orbit Earth from pole to pole, around 800 km high and complementing the long-standing series of Meteosat missions that orbit 36 000 km above the equator.

“It was envisaged that each successive satellite would take over from its predecessor, but thanks to their extraordinary quality, both MetOp-A and MetOp-B are still going strong. With MetOp-C, the mission will continue as a three-satellite constellation, further increasing the wealth of data for weather forecasting.”

“MetOp-C is now in the hands of ESA’s flight operations team in Germany for the three-day early orbit operations phase, until the handover of flight operations to Eumetsat.”

Alain Ratier, Eumetsat Director General, said, “Eumetsat is grateful to Arianespace for another successful launch, after those of MetOp-A and MetOp-B.

“We are now ready to take over flight operations from ESA’s European Spacecraft Operations Centre to perform in-orbit commissioning of the satellite and instruments until end of January, in partnership with ESA, CNES and NOAA. After this, Eumetsat scientists will validate output products with expert users, such that we can release real-time products to users in spring 2019.

“With three operational MetOp satellites in orbit, the Eumetsat Polar System will further improve weather forecasts up to 10 days ahead, for the benefit of European citizens and our economy.”

“MetOp-C will also ensure the smooth transition with the Eumetsat Polar System - Second Generation, developed in cooperation with ESA, with the objective to launch the first MetOp Second Generation satellite in 2022.”

About the European Space Agency

The European Space Agency (ESA) provides Europe’s gateway to space.

ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.

ESA has 22 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Slovenia is an Associate Member.

ESA has established formal cooperation with six Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.

By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. It is working in particular with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes as well as with Eumetsat for the development of meteorological missions.

ESA develops the launchers, spacecraft and ground facilities needed to keep Europe at the forefront of global space activities.

Today, it develops and launches satellites for Earth observation, navigation, telecommunications and astronomy, sends probes to the far reaches of the Solar System and cooperates in the human exploration of space. ESA also has a strong applications programme developing services in Earth observation, navigation and telecommunications.

Learn more about ESA at www.esa.int

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