* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: MetOp-A satellite

Blobrana · L

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.

Blobrana · L

L minus 1 hour
Weather is `go` for launch.
All systems nominal.

Blobrana · L

ESA TV will provide extensive pre-launch plus live launch coverage of this event, as follows (please note that different satellites are used - the details are listed with every transmission below):

16 July 12:15--12:45 GMT MetOp Final Launch Preparations
ESA TV transmits a B-roll with 30 minutes of final launch preparations (mounting of MetOp onto Fregat upper stage, assembly of Fregat and MetOp onto Soyuz launcher, roll-out onto launch pad) directly from the Baikonur Cosmodrome (Eutelsat W2 at 16 degrees East, Transponder B6 horizontal, channel D (SCPC), F=11.154 MHz, SR=5.632 MS/sec, FEC=3/4).

17 July 08:00--08:30 GMT MetOp Pre-Launch Footage
On launch day, ESA TV retransmits the MetOp VNR released on 4 July, plus a shortened B-roll with images of final launch preparations in Baikonur (Eutelsat W2 at 16 degrees East, Transponder B6 horizontal, channel D (SCPC), F=11.154 MHz, SR=5.632 MS/sec, FEC=3/4)

17 July 15:30--18:30 GMT Launch of MetOp
This is a multicamera live OB co-production by ESA, Eumetsat and Starsem covering all aspects of MetOp and its launch. The schedule is as follows:

* 15:30-16:00 Welcome speeches by officials
* 16:00-16:15 Break
* 16:15-16:45 Live launch coverage until Fregat upper stage extinction, from ESOC Main Control Room and Baikonur, lift-off at 16:28 GMT
* 16:45-17:00 Break
* 17:00-17:20 Studio presentations by experts on space meteorology
* 17:20-17:35 Break
* 17:35-17:45 Live coverage of injection of MetOp into orbit (approx 17:37 GMT), from ESOC mission control
* 17:44-18:00 Break
* 18:00-18:30 Live coverage of solar array deployment and statements by officials from ESOC and Baikonur

Downlink details of for broadcasters: (Eutelsat W2 at 16 degrees East, Transponder B6 horizontal, channel D (SCPC) F=11.154 MHz, SR=5.632 MS/sec, FEC=3/4)

For general-public viewers, a rebroadcast in 3 MBit/sec MCPC is available on Hot Bird, details are online (PDF).

17 July 16:15--16:45 GMT Launch of MetOp - Clean feed from Baikonur
ESA TV provides a live clean feed of the three cameras at the Baikonour Cosmodrome that will recordlift-off and ascent of the launcher (Eutelsat W2 at 16 degrees East, Transponder B6 horizontal, channel F (SCPC) F=11.173 MHz, SR=5.632 MS/sec, FEC=3/4.)

18 July 04:00--04:15 GMT MetOp Launch Summary
ESA TV will provide a launch summary with the images of final launch preparations, lift-off and flight, reactions at mission control at ESOC, and if available, post-mission statements by officials in Baikonur. The edit will also include some graphics on the first operations of MetOp in space (Eutelsat W1 at 10 degrees East, Transponder F6, vertical (SCPC), F=12.735 MHz, SR= 4.167 MS/sec, FEC=5/6)

http://television.esa.int/

Blobrana · L

The launch by Starsem of the Eumetsat’s MetOp-A meteorological satellite is now scheduled on Monday, July 17. The launch will be performed by a Soyuz 2-1a launcher equipped with the ST fairing.

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

Blobrana · L

The first MetOp satellite is currently in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, where it is undergoing final preparation before its launch onboard a Russian Soyuz ST/Fregat vehicle on 17 July. Lift-off is scheduled for 18:28 CEST (16:28 GMT).

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

Web link:
www.esa.int/esaLP/LPmetop.html

Blobrana · L

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 will be used to improve weather forecasts and climate monitoring.
The first in a series of three satellites, MetOp represents Europe’s contribution to a new cooperative venture with the United States. The satellite carries 12 different instruments designed for meteorological observation and climate monitoring, whilst also supporting search and rescue and the monitoring of charged particles in the low Earth orbit environment.
EADS Astrium is the satellite prime contractor and responsible for three of the twelve instruments on board the spacecraft. These include ASCAT, an active radar instrument which measures wind speed and direction over the open sea. It also provides data for ice and snow coverage as well as surface moisture.
The Microwave Humidity Sounder was designed and built by EADS Astrium
in Portsmouth. MHS scans the Earth’s atmosphere to measure emitted radiation at various wavelengths in order to determine the water vapour content (clouds, precipitation, humidity) at various altitudes.

www.esa.int/metop

Blobrana · L

MetOp-A has successfully completed the first phase of testing at the Baikonur Space Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, confirming the launch date of the first European polar-orbiting satellite dedicated to operational meteorology for 17 July 2006.

With an array of sophisticated instrumentation, MetOp-A – jointly established by ESA and the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) – promises to provide data of unprecedented accuracy and resolution on a host of different variables such as temperature and humidity, wind speed and direction, ozone and other trace gases.

Read more

Blobrana · L

METOP-A will launch from the Baikonur space complex on the 17th of July at 22:28 (local time).

Blobrana · L

The first MetOp meteorological satellite arrived yesterday at its launch site, the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, following shipment from the industrial prime contractor, EADS Astrium in Toulouse, on board an Antonov-124 transport plane.

MetOp-A is the first in a series of three EUMETSAT Polar System (EPS) satellites developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) for EUMETSAT, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites.
After undergoing a mechanical and environmental test campaign, the spacecraft passed the acceptance review last year and the recent compatibility test between satellite and ground segment cleared the way for shipment of the satellite to Baikonur.

This shipment comprises a service module, a payload module and the solar array, including the electrical and mechanical ground support equipment needed for the launch campaign. The mission includes a total of 12 instruments developed in cooperation with French Space Agency, CNES, and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

MetOp is scheduled for launch on 17 July 2006 at 22:28 Baikonur time (18.28 CEST) with the latest Soyuz ST Fregat launcher operated by Starsem.
MetOp is the first polar orbiting satellite dedicated to operational meteorology. The MetOp satellite services have been designed to provide global weather data until 2020. 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.