Today was the launch of the second satellite MetOp for a Russian Soyuz launcher, which lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
This satellite called Metop-B will ensure continuity of weather forecasting services and monitoring of the atmosphere than its predecessor, MetOp-A, has been performing since 2006.
The satellite MetOp-B, part of the EUMETSAT Polar System (EPS), and is now controlled by the Operations Center in Darmstadt, Germany.
“The launch of the second satellite MetOp took place just two and a half months after the launch of MSG-3, reflecting the vitality of the European meteorological satellite, developed jointly by ESA and EUMETSAT,” said the Director General of the ESA, Jean-Jacques Dordain. “The fact that the ESA is already working on the next generation of satellites shows the strong commitment of the member states of both organizations, which will continue to collect data that will help us improve weather forecasts and to study and better understand climate change. These services are proving everyday economic and social benefits of investment in space infrastructure. ”
“MetOp-B will enter service as MetOp-A is still active, enabling us to ensure continuity of services without any interruption. In parallel, we are working with EUMETSAT in the development of the second generation of polar-orbiting weather satellites, “said Volker Liebig, Director of Programs for Earth Observation at ESA.
MetOp satellites working in much lower orbit and fly around the planet, making it easy for these satellites collect atmospheric data.
Meteosat and MetOp satellites, weather forecasting services provided as part of the ESA initiative for climate monitoring, area where the satellites are also experimental Earth Explorer.
Since 2009 they have released three ‘Earth Explorer’: GOCE, prepared to record a map of the Earth’s gravitational field, SMOS, dedicated to the study of the water cycle on Earth, and CryoSat, the first mission designed for monitoring changes in ice thickness.
Next year the European Space Agency (ESA), start with the deployment of satellite family ‘Sentinel’, which analyzed the evolution of climate and environment on the planet, a project that belongs to the GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and security) of the European Commission.
By Carol Corrales Quesada
Rainforest Radio
