This first MSG-2 satellite colour image of the Earth was acquired on 25 January. It follows the MSG-2 first image, in black and white, which was unveiled on 24 January.
The second Meteosat Second Generation satellite, developed on behalf of EUMETSAT under the aegis of the European Space Agency, was launched from the Guiana Space Centre, Europe’s spaceport, in Kourou, French Guiana, on 21 December 2005.
Once operational, MSG-2 will secure the high availability and reliability of the Meteosat Second Generation System.
Ground control has fired the Liquid Apogee Motor on board INSAT-4A for 42 minutes raising the perigee (closest point to the earth) to 31,479 km. The apogee height remained at 36,008 km and the inclination of the orbit with respect to the equatorial plane has been reduced from 0.85 degree to 0.12 degrees.
The satellite is now in the continuous radio visibility of Master Control facility (MCF) of ISRO at Hassan in Karnataka . The satellite came within the radio visibility of MCF Saturday morning at 0719 hrs and all the necessary operations like earth acquisition and gyro calibration were carried out before the second orbit raising manoeuvre was started. The next exercise to place INSAT-4A in near geo synchronous orbit is planned on December 26, 2005. Deployment of the two solar panels and the two antennas would be also be carried out.
The 21st successful launch of an Ariane 5 now brings a total combined payload weight of more than 24 metric tons put into orbit.
Credit Arianespace
Provisional parameters at injection of the storable propellant upper stage (EPS) were: Perigee: 622 km. for a target of 622 km. (±3) Apogee: 36,152 km. for a target of 36,159 km. (±160) Inclination: 4.02 degrees for a target of 4.00 degrees (±0.06º)
The next Ariane 5 mission is set for February 21 2006. This will be another dual-satellite flight, using the heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA version to loft HOT BIRD 7A for Eutelsat and the SPAINSAT spacecraft for Hisdesat.
Lifting off from Europe's Spaceport at the start of its 28-minute launch window, the Ariane 5 deployed India's INSAT-4A telecommunications satellite first – releasing it in geostationary transfer orbit at just over 29 minutes into the flight. Approximately seven minutes later, the European MSG-2 second-generation Meteosat spacecraft also was injected into geostationary transfer orbit.
Ground tracking stations immediately received the first telemetry signals from INSAT-4A and MSG-2, confirming that both satellites were in good condition after their ride aboard Ariane 5.
T plus 36 minutes Both satellites have been released from the Ariane 5 rocket's upper stage.
The Ariane 5 upper stage, the 6,800-pound Insat 4A will use its kick motor to gradually circularise its orbit at a geostationary altitude of around 22,300 miles, whilst also decreasing inclination towards an equatorial orbit. The craft will be guided into a permanent location at 83 degrees East longitude, and its two solar arrays will be extended to span over 50 feet tip-to-tip as it embarks on its 12-year mission.
Below Insat 4A and inside the Sylda 5 payload adapter during the ascent to orbit will be the 4,484-pound MSG 2 weather satellite, the second in a series of four spacecraft that comprise the Meteosat Second Generation family that will provide continuity to European meteorologists throughout the coming decade. MSG 2 was manufactured by a contracting team led by Alcatel Alenia Space.
Once in its operational position in geostationary orbit parked above the intersection of the equator and prime meridian, data from MSG 2 will be delivered directly to ground terminals for use by both research meteorologists and daily weather forecasters to input into scientific studies and forecast models. The craft's imager features twelve channels ranging from visible to infrared wavelengths. Pictures can be snapped at regular 15-minute intervals, or around twice as fast as possible with satellites from the earlier series.
Europe's latest weather satellite, the Meteosat Second Generation satellite, MSG-2, has been successfully rolled-out to its launch zone atop its Ariane 5 rocket.
The sixth and final launch of the Ariane vehicle will take place during a 28-minute launch window that opens at 22:33 GMT, 21 December.
The launch readiness review (RAL) took place in Kourou on Monday, December 19, 2005 and authorised count-down operations for the INSAT 4A - MSG-2 Flight.
The Ariane 5 generic launcher lift-off for this Flight is scheduled during the night of December 21 to 22, 2005 as soon as possible within the following launch window:
KOUROU: Between 07:33pm and 08:01pm on December 21, 2005. GMT: Between 10:33pm and 11:01pm on December 21, 2005. PARIS: Between 11:33pm and 12:01am on December 21-22, 2005. WASHINGTON:Between 05:33pm and 06:01pm on December 21, 2005.