Europe’s MetOp makes history
A new era in weather observation began on 19 October with the launch of Europe’s MetOp-A spacecraft. Safely sheltered inside a new 4.1m diameter payload fairing, the 4 tonne satellite was successfully placed into a near-polar orbit around the Earth.
MetOp-A is now under the control of ESA’s European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany. Once ground controllers have checked out the satellite, it will be handed over to the European Meteorological Satellite Organisation (EUMETSAT) on 22 October, and readied for full-time operation.
The launch made history for a number of reasons. MetOp-A is the first European weather satellite ever placed in a low, polar orbit, 837 km above the Earth. It is also the first of three similar satellites being developed by ESA and EUMETSAT. The launch was the first operational flight of a Soyuz 2 / Fregat rocket – the latest version of the long-lived Russian launcher.
In addition, MetOp-A is the first in a new fleet of weather satellites being built by Europe and the United States. Data from these polar-orbiting spacecraft will provide a remarkably detailed view of the ever-changing atmosphere above our heads.
MetOp-A carries 11 instruments that will be used to study global weather and climate change, support search and rescue operations, and monitor charged particles above the Earth. Circling the planet 14 times a day, the satellite will download data to a ground station on Svalbard, north of Norway. The information will then be transmitted to EUMETSAT’s centre in Darmstadt for processing and distribution.
