N° 31–2018: Call for media: launch of MetOp-C – European meteorological satellite

Early next Wednesday morning, Eumetsat’s MetOp-C – the last in the current series of polar-orbiting meteorological satellites – will be launched from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. The MetOp series of satellites has the biggest impact on weather forecast accuracy.

Eumetsat is hosting an event at its Darmstadt headquarters, from where the satellite will be operated after the launch and early orbit phase (LEOP). The programme includes live crossovers to Kourou to follow the launch as it happens.

Speakers will cover how MetOp has not only improved weather forecasting, but how it is also used to monitor the atmosphere, droughts and the disappearance of old Arctic sea ice.

Representatives from all of the partners involved in the MetOp mission – Eumetsat, ESA, Airbus Defence and Space, the French space agency CNES, Arianespace and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – will also speak.

The media are welcome to attend the event at Darmstadt headquarters. Tours of Eumetsat and ESA’s European Space Operations Centre (ESOC), from where MetOp-C’s LEOP activities will be carried out, will be arranged before the event.

The MetOp programme is a collaborative undertaking between Eumetsat and ESA, whereby ESA is responsible for procuring the satellites for Eumetsat.

 

Tours of ESOC and Eumetsat

Where:

ESA/ESOC

Robert-Bosch-Straße 5

64293 Darmstadt

Germany

 

When:

Arrival and check-in at ESOC 21:15 – 21:30 (Tuesday 6 November)

Briefing about the MetOp-C LEOP activities in ESOC including a visit of the control centre 21:30 – 22:10

Transfer to Eumetsat by bus 22:15

Welcome drink at Eumetsat 22:30

Briefing about Eumetsat’s activities including a visit of the control centre 22:45 – 23:20

 

Launch Event Programme at Eumetsat

Where:

Eumetsat

Eumetsat-Allee 1

64295 Darmstadt

Germany

 

When:

Doors open at 23:30 (Tuesday 6 November)

Programme begins 00:15 (Wednesday 7 November)

Launch is at 01:47

Event concludes around 03:30

 

Registration

Media can register by sending an email to press@eumetsat.int. 

Please indicate if you’d like to participate in the tours of ESOC and Eumetsat, or if you plan to join the Eumetsat event programme only.

Please note that you need to bring a valid ID/passport to enter ESOC and Eumetsat.

For more information, please contact Ruth Evans – ruth.evans@eumetsat.int or 0171 221 3015 or press@eumetsat.int.

For more information about ESA/ESOC, please contact media@esa.int.

 

About the European Space Agency

The European Space Agency (ESA) provides Europe’s gateway to space.

ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.

ESA has 22 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Slovenia is an Associate Member.

ESA has established formal cooperation with six Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.

By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. It is working in particular with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes as well as with Eumetsat for the development of meteorological missions.

ESA develops the launchers, spacecraft and ground facilities needed to keep Europe at the forefront of global space activities.

Today, it develops and launches satellites for Earth observation, navigation, telecommunications and astronomy, sends probes to the far reaches of the Solar System and cooperates in the human exploration of space. ESA also has a strong applications programme developing services in Earth observation, navigation and telecommunications.

Learn more about ESA at www.esa.int

For further information, please contact:
ESA Media Relations Office
Email: media@esa.int
Tel: +33 1 53 69 72 99