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Launch milestone – last-ever look at MetOp

11 July 2006

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MetOp ready to be sealed inside the fairing.

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 - K. Büchler

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Some last preparations are made before the MetOp satellite is enclosed in the fairing.

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 - K. Büchler

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The fairing is moved to encapsulate MetOp

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The fairing is moved to encapsulate MetOp.

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 - K. Büchler

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Tightening the bolts after encapsulation

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Tightening the bolts after MetOp has been encapsulated in the fairing.

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 - K. Büchler

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MetOp-A will be launched on a Soyuz/ST Fregat rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in July 2006. Almost five minutes after launch at an altitude of about 175 km Stage-2 runs out of fuel and separates from the rest of the launch vehicle. Immediately after the second stage has separated, the two half-shells of the fairing are opened and released leaving the Stage-3, the Fregat upper-stage and the MetOp spacecraft.

Credits: ESA - AOES Medialab

Launch diary

MetOp launch status Europe's first polar-orbiting weather satellite ready for launch Integration of MetOp upper-composite and third-stage complete Safe arrival at the launch facility for MetOp MetOp encapsulated in fairing MetOp integrated with Fregat upper-stage MetOp launch campaign resumed MetOp to be launched in October Launch of MetOp-A postponed MetOp ready for launch Upper-composite transferred to launcher integration facility MetOp joins Fregat upper-stage MetOp fuelled and pressurised MetOp-A gets green light for 17 July launch date MetOp – last phase of testing before launch MetOp satellite shipped to Baikonur on 18 April

In depth

Soyuz launch vehicle Baikonur