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MetOp-B module passes crucial vacuum test

3 August 2010

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The Payload Module of ESA’s latest meteorological satellite, MetOp-B, has been hauled out of the largest vacuum chamber in Europe: its ability to operate in the harsh conditions of space has been proved. MetOp programme manager Luciano Di Napoli and coordinator Rob Oremus explain MetOp-B testing After more than a month of testing in ESA’s Large Space Simulator (LSS) at ESTEC in the Netherlands, MetOp-B’s Payload Module was lifted out of the vacuum chamber on 28 July.

Credits: ESA - S. Koenen

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MetOp-B Payload Module lifted out of ESTEC's Large Space Simulator on 28 July 2010, after more than a month of tests.

Credits: ESA/Sander Koenen

Heavy lifting

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Payload Module moved after being lifted from ESTEC's Large Space Simulator on 28 July 2010. MetOp-B's Payload Module is the segment of the satellite that hosts its meteorological instruments.

Credits: ESA/ Sander Koenen

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Members of the MetOp-B team pictured with the mission's Payload Module on 28 July 2010, following the conclusion of thermal vacuum testing in ESTEC's Large Space Simulator.

Credits: ESA/Sander Koenen

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MetOp-A is Europe's first polar orbiting weather satellite

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MetOp-A is Europe's first polar orbiting satellite dedicated to operational meteorology, and with its contribution to the American Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellite (POES) Programme it marks a new era in global weather prediction and climate monitoring. From its polar orbit 800 kilometres above the surface of the Earth, MetOp's range of European and American instruments will provide a wealth of accurate and detailed information to meteorologists and scientists around the world.

MetOp-A was launched on 19 October 2006 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, on a Soyuz ST rocket with a Fregat upper stage.

Credits: ESA - AEOS Medialab

MetOp-B is ESA test centre’s latest task of busy year

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