Launch milestone – last-ever look at MetOp   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.   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.   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.   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.   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. Release date: 11 July 2006