Earth Observation Programmes
Only space provides the perspective to understand, monitor and act on our changing world.
19 JUN. 2006
publication date
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Launches | MetOp-A: 2006 from Kazakhstan on Soyuz |
MetOp-B: 2012 from Kazakhstan on Soyuz | |
MetOp-C: 2018 from French Guiana on Soyuz | |
Dimensions | 6.2 x 3.4 x 3.4 m (under the launcher fairing) |
17.6x6.5x5.2 metres (deployed in orbit) | |
4083 Kg at launch, including 314 Kg of fuel | |
Orbit | Polar, Sun-synchronous orbit |
Altitude | Approximately 817 km |
Instruments | Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A (AMSU-A) measures temperature of atmosphere (NOAA) |
Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) measures surface wind speed over the ocean (Eumetsat/ESA) | |
Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR/3) images clouds, the ocean and land surfaces (NOAA) | |
Global Navigation Satellite System Receiver for Atmospheric Sounding (GRAS) measures temperature of upper troposphere and stratosphere (Eumetsat/ESA) | |
Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) measures temperature and humidity (CNES) | |
Microwave Humidity Sounder (MHS) measures humidity (Eumetsat) | |
Space Environment Monitor (SEM) measures charged particles (NOAA) | |
Advanced Data Collection (ARGOS) for location and dissemination of measurements (CNES) | |
Mission control | Eumetsat, Darmstadt, Germany |
Launch and early orbit phase via ESA’s European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt | |
Data | Downloaded to Eumetsat Polar System stations in Svalbard (Norway) and U.S. McMurdo in Antarctica |
Data processed at Eumetsat | |
Applications | Operational meteorology and climate research |
Prime contractor | Airbus Defence and Space |
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Meteorological missions
Building the future of weather forecasting from space
MetOp-C fact sheet
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