MetOp-SG (Meteorological Operational Satellite - Second Generation) is a series of six meteorological satellites developed by

European Space Agency The European Space Agency (ESA) is a 23-member International organization, international organization devoted to space exploration. With its headquarters in Paris and a staff of around 2,547 people globally as of 2023, ESA was founded in 1975 ...

and EUMETSAT to be launched from 2025 to 2039.

Development

In May 2014 during ILA Berlin Air Show, in a presence of chancellor

Angela Merkel Angela Dorothea Merkel (; ; born 17 July 1954) is a German retired politician who served as Chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021. She is the only woman to have held the office. She was Leader of the Opposition from 2002 to 2005 and Leade ...

, ESA, EUMETSAT and

Airbus Defence and Space Airbus Defence and Space is a division of Airbus SE. Formed in 2014 in the restructuring of European Aeronautic Defence and Space (EADS), Airbus SE comprises the former Airbus Military, Astrium, and divisions. Contributing 21% of Airbus reven ...

signed the first documents for the development of second generation of the

MetOp MetOp (Meteorological Operational satellite) is a series of three polar-orbiting meteorological satellites developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and operated by the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites ...

satellites. On 16 October 2014 contract was signed with Airbus Defence and Space for a construction of the satellites, worth in total for six spacecraft (on average each). In December 2014 additional contracts were signed for Ice Cloud Imagers to be used on B-series satellites and three microwave sounder instruments. MetOp-SG satellites will be built in two series: A, carrying visible, infrared, and microwave imagers and sounders; and B, carrying

microwave Microwave is a form of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths shorter than other radio waves but longer than infrared waves. Its wavelength ranges from about one meter to one millimeter, corresponding to frequency, frequencies between 300&n ...

imagers and radars. The first A-series satellite will be launched in early 2025, while the first B-series satellite will be launched in 2026 using the

Ariane 6 Ariane 6 is a European expendable launch system developed for the European Space Agency (ESA) and manufactured by a consortium of European companies, led by the prime contractor ArianeGroup. As part of the Ariane rocket family, it is operate ...

rocket. MetOp-SG satellites are a follow on from the three

satellites and there are plans to perform a short tandem mission between the MetOp-SG-A1 and MetOp-C satellites to cross calibration old and new instruments. A later tandem mission may also be possible between MetOp-SG-A1 and FORUM satellites in the future.

References

External links

MetOp-SG - Meteorological data across the entire globe
video presentation {{Future spaceflights Earth observation satellites of the European Space Agency European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites Weather satellites 2020s in spaceflight Proposed satellites Satellite series