MetOp-A satellite

Blob · #1 (**permalink**) 14-July-2006, 01:46 PM

MetOp-A, Europe’s first polar-orbiting satellite dedicated to operational meteorology, is scheduled for launch by a Soyuz 2-1a rocket from the Baïkonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, on 17 July at 16.28 GMT.

Designed and developed by ESA in partnership with EUMETSAT (European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites), MetOp is the first in a series of three satellites, MetOp represents Europe’s contribution to a new cooperative venture with the United States.

MetOp, which will fly at a height of about 837 km, promises, with its 12 sophisticated instruments, to provide data of unprecedented accuracy, thus improving global weather forecasting and providing enhanced climate monitoring capabilities.

Time of launch:

GMT: 04:28 pm
Paris: 06:28 pm
Baikonur : 09:28 pm
Kourou: 01:28 pm
Washington: 11:28 am
Tokyo: 01:29 am

ESA TV will provide a live transmission of the launch from three locations: ESOC, Eumetsat Headquarters, and the Baikonour Cosmodrome.
Web link:

http://www.esa.int/esaLP/LPmetop.html

Blob · #2 (**permalink**) 14-July-2006, 04:10 PM

See also MetOp Prepares for Launch

Blob · #3 (**permalink**) 17-July-2006, 05:44 PM

Launch scrubbed.

There was a problem with the loading of propellant on the Soyuz.
The launch has been rescheduled to 16:28 GMT 18th July.

"And now, the end is here
And so I face the final curtain
My friend, I'll say it clear
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain
I've lived a life that's full
I traveled each and ev'ry highway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way"

Blob · #4 (**permalink**) 18-July-2006, 05:44 PM

The launch of MetOp-A has been delayed again, due to a problem with one of the launcher boosters.
Launch has been rescheduled to tomorrow.

ToSeek · #5 (**permalink**) 18-July-2006, 06:14 PM

Slightly dated news release:

Soyuz-2 carrier rocket to put Europe’s Metop-2 satellite in orbit

Quote:

A modernized Soyuz-2 carrier rocket on Tuesday will lift off from the Baikonur space launch pad to deliver the Metop-A meteorological satellite to outer space after a twenty-four-hour delay. The Soyuz-2 is equipped with the Frigate rocket booster, a source at the Federal Space Agency (Rosaviakosmos) told Itar-Tass. The carrier rocket will be launched at 20:28 Moscow time.

The Soyuz-2 is a new type of carrier rocket equipped exclusively with Russian-made components.

The Metop-A satellite will be put in orbit close to the polar one 68 minutes after the launch. The satellite was the first to be built by the EADS Astrium Company for the European Space Agency and the EUMETSAT organization of satellite meteorology.

Blob · #6 (**permalink**) 18-July-2006, 08:48 PM

The launch was scrubbed today after the vehicle’s onboard sensors falsely indicated a problem during fuelling.

Blob · #7 (**permalink**) 19-July-2006, 09:44 AM

A new launch attempt is scheduled for tonight at 18:28 CEST (16:28 UT, 22:28 Baikonur local time). The satellite preparation has started, satellite is switched on and in standby. Flight software loading to commence shortly.
The weather is good. Status of MetOp-A, launcher and ESOC is 'Green'.

Source

Blob · #8 (**permalink**) 19-July-2006, 10:43 AM

VIDEO (mediaplayer stream)

Live broadcast of the launch
(starts about an hour before launch)

Blob · #9 (**permalink**) 19-July-2006, 10:30 PM

Today's launch was scrubbed due to an unknown error.
According to the Russian space agency the launch of a European weather satellite aboard a new generation Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket has been postponed indefinitely.

"The delay in the launch is due to a failure in mission sequence tests" - Federal Space Agency.

Blob · #10 (**permalink**) 20-July-2006, 03:07 PM

According to the Russian Federal Space Agency the launch of the MetOp satellite, aboard a Soyuz-2.1a rocket, has been delayed for two months.

Blob · #11 (**permalink**) 20-July-2006, 04:11 PM

Arianespace Press release:
After the difficulties encountered during multiple attempts to launch the MetOp-A satellite on the Soyuz/ST launcher, Starsem and its Russian partners - in agreement with Eumetsat and ESA - have decided to suspend launch operations.

The launch vehicle and its satellite will be returned to the launcher integration facility (MIK).
In parallel, a new operations plan is to be established in order to determine the new launch date.

ToSeek · #12 (**permalink**) 20-July-2006, 04:35 PM

Sounds as if there are some serious issues with the launch vehicle.

Blob · #13 (**permalink**) 20-July-2006, 05:27 PM

Hum,
i reckon so too.
The upgraded Soyuz 2-1a launch vehicle requires an enlarged payload fairing to fit the MetOp-A satellite which requires a new digital control system to enables the launcher to be flown properly.
All of which is untested.

(Impressively, the actual `standard` Soyuz/ST Fregat launch vehicle which has been in service since November 1963, has a successful launch record of 97% from 1650 launches.)

Blob · #14 (**permalink**) 14-September-2006, 11:39 PM

Quote:

MetOp-A, the first in a new European series of three meteorological operational satellites designed to monitor the Earth’s atmosphere from polar orbit, is now to be launched on Saturday 7 October from Baikonur, Kazakhstan.

It will complement Europe’s already highly successful Meteosat satellites positioned in geostationary orbit and will form the European part of an integrated system to be deployed jointly with the USA to provide better weather and climate information.
The first MetOp satellite is currently at the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. There, it is undergoing final preparations for its 7 October launch onboard a Russian Soyuz ST/Fregat rocket operated by Starsem. Lift-off is scheduled for 18:28 CEST (16:28 GMT).

Source

Blob · #15 (**permalink**) 20-September-2006, 01:22 AM

Quote:

With the launch of MetOp now set for 7 October at 18:28 CEST, the MetOp satellite is out of storage and preparations for launch are well underway at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Blob · #16 (**permalink**) 05-October-2006, 06:40 PM

EUMETSAT confirms Tuesday 17 October as the new launch date for MetOp, Europe's first polar-orbiting satellite. MetOp will lift off at 18:28 CEST (16:28 UTC; 22:28 local time) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan on a Soyuz/ST launcher.

Source

Blob · #17 (**permalink**) 17-October-2006, 06:49 PM

The MetOp-A satellite launch was scrubbed at T-1 second, before the planned 16:28 GMT (12:28 p.m. EDT) lift-off today due to an. as yet. undisclosed problem with its Soyuz ST Fregat launcher.

Read more

Blob · #18 (**permalink**) 18-October-2006, 12:47 PM

The launch has been rescheduled to Wednesday, 18 October, 04:28pm GMT.

Blob · #19 (**permalink**) 18-October-2006, 07:26 PM

Today's countdown at the Baikonur Cosmodrome has been scrubbed due to high winds.
A rescheduled launch attempt will be carried out tomorrow.

Blob · #20 (**permalink**) 19-October-2006, 06:47 PM

Metop, Europe's most sophisticated weather and climate satellite, has launched successfully from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
The satellite should improve weather forecasts, and give scientists the data they need to refine climate models.
A Russian Soyuz rocket lifted Metop off the launch pad at 1628 GMT.

Read more

Blob · #21 (**permalink**) 19-October-2006, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Today, Europe entered a new era of weather and climate monitoring when the first in the series of operational meteorological satellites in polar orbit, MetOp, was successfully launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan on a Soyuz Fregat launcher at 16:28 UTC (18:28 CEST; 22:28 Baikonur time).
After separation from the launcher and injection of the satellite into orbit, the solar array was deployed autonomously using a pre-defined on-board command sequence. Control of the satellite was then taken over by the European Space Agency’s Operations Control Centre (ESA/ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany. ESOC will now perform the Early Orbit Phase operations such as the initiation and configuration of the Service Module, the main Payload Module items and the deployment of all antennas. This phase is expected to last 3 days, and control of the satellite would then be transferred to EUMETSAT on 22 October.

Following the launch, EUMETSAT’s Director-General, Dr. Lars Prahm, thanked Starsem and its Russian partners for the successful launch and praised the project teams for their outstanding work. He also paid tribute to European space industries for their contribution in designing and constructing the satellite. Special acknowledgements were given to ESA, NOAA and CNES for the excellent cooperation in developing and procuring the satellite and its payload.

MetOp flies at an altitude of about 837 km (i.e. approximately 43 times closer to Earth than a geostationary satellite). The MetOp series consists of a total of three satellites, which are designed to provide meteorological operational data from polar orbit until 2020. The global data sets gathered by the MetOp satellites will revolutionise the way the Earth’s weather, climate and environment are observed, in particular they are expected to significantly improve operational meteorology through the provision of additional data for Numerical Weather Prediction Models. MetOp will also provide an important contribution towards the improvement of severe weather forecasts and disaster mitigation.

Source

Blob · #22 (**permalink**) 19-October-2006, 08:35 PM

For 28 years, Europe has been operating its famous Meteosat weather satellites in geostationary orbit. Today, they were joined by the first of a brand new generation of meteorological satellites. MetOp is designed to provide a closer view of the atmosphere from low earth orbit, delivering data that will improve global weather prediction and enhance our understanding of climate change.
The first of three satellites developed under a joint programme being carried out by the European Space Agency and the European Meteorological Satellite Organisation (EUMESAT), MetOp-A was successfully launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan by a Russian Soyuz 2/Fregat rocket operated by the Euro-Russian company Starsem.

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