2006-044A
Astrium-SAS's Metop will make up the Eumetsat Polar System (EPS) [719] and use the Spot bus from MMS-F. Mass 4175 kg launch including 316 kg of hydrazine. Launch 2005. 0930LT SSO planned. Control by Eumetsat via Kiruna. Astrium GmbH (Dornier) makes the payload module. Astrium Ltd. (MMS UK) makes the SM mechanical system.
First satellite is Metop 2, to be named Metop A after launch.
Size is 6.3 x 3.4 x 3.4 at launch, 17.6 span after deployment of the single solar array and the 2 ASCAT antenna booms each around 3m long. Shape is box + panel + 2 antennae.
By 2013 Metop A was operating as the secondary satellite with Metop B in the prime role.
| Metop A launch mass breakdown | ||
| METOP A dry | 3769 | |
| Hydrazine | 316 | |
| Adapter | 90? | |
| Fregat prop | 3724? | |
| Fregat dry | 1000? | |
| Total | 8900 | |
0930LT
17.6 x 6.7 x 5.4m mass. 11.3m span with solar array. Mass 4086 kg (BR-261) full, 3769? kg dry (or 3858 kg?) The 1666-SF adapter was used between METOP and Fregat. An interstage (PKhO) was used between Fregat and the LV.
Launch by Soyuz-2-1A No. 3 (Starsem ST16) with Fregat No. 1011 (88515?) in 2005 with new 11.4m long 4.1m dia fairing. Azimuth 354.6. Blok A and fairing drop near Perm. Blok I drop near Greenland at 81N 5W.
The 14A14 Soyuz-2-1A Fregat (Zh15000-003/1011) rocket with MetOp was transported to the launch platform PU-6.
| Metop | |||
| Date | Time | Event | Orbit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 Oct 19 | 1628:13 | Launch by Soyuz-ST (2-1A) | KB LC31 |
| T+1:58 Strapon sep | |||
| T+4:47 Blok A MECO | |||
| T+4:48 Blok A sep | |||
| T+4:48 KhO sep | |||
| T+4:49 GO sep | |||
| 1636:58 | T+8:45 Blok I MECO | ||
| 1637:02 | T+8:49 Blok I sep | -2280 x 230 x 98.72 | |
| -2299 x 221 x 98.7 (Fregat report) | |||
| 1638:02 | T+9:49 Fregat MES-1 1289.4 m/s 2771 kg | ||
| 1645:35 | T+17:22 Fregat MECO-1 | 170 x 820 x 98.7 | |
| 164 x 825 x 98.7 (TLE) | |||
| 164 x 809 x 98.7 (Fregat report) | |||
| 1731:05 | T+1:02:52 Fregat MES-2 over 140E 77S, 181.1m/s 314 kg | ||
| 1731:57 | T+1:03:44 Fregat MECO-2 over 110E 75S | ||
| 1737:05 | T+1:08 METOP sep over 85E 70S | 802 x 838 x 98.7 | |
| 101.34 818 x 826 x 98.7 (TLE) | |||
| 1814:58 | T+1:46:45 Fregat MES-3 over 15E 75N 237.7m/s | ||
| 1815:19 | T+1:47:06 Fregat MECO-3 238m/s | -31 x 824 x 98.7 | |
| -4 x 823 (Fregat report) | |||
| 1852:54 | Fregat reentry 100 km | ||
| 2013 Apr | Metop B continues as operational sat | ||
Payload:
- ASCAT scatterometer; determines wind speed over ocean. (2 sets of 3 antennae)
- AVHRR/3 Imager (6 bands)
- HIRS/4 IR sounder (20 channels)
- AMSU-A HF sounder
- MHS Microwave humidity HF sounder (5 channel microwave radiometer)
- SEM-2 Space environment monitor (particle spectrometer)
- GOME 2 Vis/UV spectrometer, ozone and trace gas monitor
- ADCS/Argos 3 Advanced Data relay
- IASI Improved Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer, T/humidity profile; FT spectrometer in 3.4-15.5mu band.
- SARP-3 SAR (Search and Rescue) processor
- SARR SAR repeater, SARSAT-11
