MetOp-SG-A1 being prepared for acoustic tests

The MetOp-SG-A1 satellite being prepared for acoustic tests at Airbus’ facilities in Toulouse, France. A white ‘yurt’ is being lowered around the satellite. Clean air is blown inside the yurt to maintain cleanliness beyond the ISO8 standard. There are also some soft bags visible which protect the instruments.

The MetOp-Second Generation (MetOp-SG) mission comprises three successive pairs of satellites to deliver data for weather forecasting and climate prediction for over 20 years. Working as a pair in polar orbit, the A-type and B-type satellites are equipped with complementary suites of instruments to provide high-resolution measurements of temperature, precipitation, clouds, winds, and more. The A-type satellites carry optical and sounder instruments, and the B-type satellites carry microwave imaging instruments.