MetOp to be launched on 17 October   MetOp in orbit     5 October 2006   EUMETSAT confirms Tuesday 17 October as the new launch date for MetOp, Europe's first polar-orbiting satellite dedicated to operational meteorology. MetOp will lift off at 18:28 CEST (16:28 UTC; 22:28 local time) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan on a Soyuz/ST launcher.   Due to a mechanical incident at the Baikonur launch base on 30 September the launch of MetOp, originally planned for Saturday 7 October 2006, had to be postponed.      •  MetOp (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/LPmetop.html) Related articles  •  MetOp launch postponed (http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM0XLKKKSE_index_0.html) In depth  •  Soyuz launch vehicle (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/ESA_Permanent_Mission_in_Russia/SEMAM1X4QWD_0.html)  •  Baikonur (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/ESA_Permanent_Mission_in_Russia/SEMRSA1XDYD_0.html) Related links  •  EUMETSAT (http://www.eumetsat.int)  •  EADS-Astrium (http://www.space.eads.net/)  •  Starsem (http://www.starsem.com)  •  NOAA (http://www.noaa.gov)  •  CNES (http://www.cnes.fr/html/_455_.php)