| Manufacturer | Airbus Defence and Space | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designer | European Space Agency | ||
| Operator | EUMETSAT | ||
| Applications | Meteorology | ||
| Specifications | |||
| Spacecraft type | Satellite | ||
| Bus | Astrobus | ||
| Launch mass | ~4 tonnes | ||
| Regime | 831 kmSun-synchronous orbit | ||
| Design life | 7.5 years | ||
| Production | |||
| Status | Under Construction | ||
| On order | 6 | ||
| Built | 2 | ||
| Launched | 0 | ||
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MetOp-SG (MeteorologicalOperational Satellite -SecondGeneration) is a series of sixmeteorological satellites developed byEuropean Space Agency andEUMETSAT to be launched from 2025 to 2039.[1]
In May 2014 duringILA Berlin Air Show, in a presence of chancellorAngela Merkel, ESA, EUMETSAT andAirbus Defence and Space signed the first documents for the development of second generation of theMetOp satellites.[2] On 16 October 2014 contract was signed with Airbus Defence and Space for a construction of the satellites, worth€1.3 billion in total for six spacecraft (on average€266.7 million each).[3]
In December 2014 additional contracts were signed for Ice Cloud Imagers to be used on B-series satellites and three microwave sounder instruments.[4][5]
MetOp-SG satellites will be built in two series: A, carrying visible, infrared, and microwave imagers and sounders; and B, carryingmicrowave 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 theAriane 6 rocket.[1]
MetOp-SG satellites are a follow on from the threeMetOp 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.
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