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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 km above the surface of Earth, MetOp's range of 13 American and European instruments provides a wealth of accurate and detailed information to meteorologists and scientists around the world.

Credits: ESA /AOES Medialab
 
 
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Calipso
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Calipso is part of NASA's Earth System Science Pathfinder programme, but provides atmospheric data as a contribution to GMES.

Credits: CNES/P. Carril
 
 
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Envisat
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Launched in 2002, Envisat is the largest Earth observation satellite ever built.

Credits: ESA
 
 
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Merlin
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The German-French climate Merlin mission is planned to launch in 2014 to measure atmospheric concentrations of methane. The mission will contribute to GMES.

Credits: DLR
 
 
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Artist's view of Meteosat Second Generation (MSG)
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Artist's view of Meteosat Second Generation (MSG). Satellite observations from space contribute to better weather forecasts as only satellites can observe weather patterns on a global scale, including the Atlantic Ocean over which most of Europe's weather originates.

Credits: ESA-D. Ducros 2002
 
 
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MetOp
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The MetOp series of three satellites is Europe's first polar-orbiting missions dedicated to operational meteorology and represents the European commitment to a new venture with the United States. They are launched sequentially, providing data until at least 2020.

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 /AOES Medialab
 
  Last update: 25 March 2011 
 
Atmospheric Contributing Missions
CalipsoEnvisat–GOMOSEnvisat–MIPASEnvisat–SciamachyMerlinMeteosat Second GenerationMetOp
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Atmospheric Contributing Mission schedule
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European Commission GMES siteEumetsat
 
 
 
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