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METOP-SG-B 1, 2, 3

METOP-SG-B [Airbus DS]

METOP-SG (Meteorological Operational - Second Generation) is Europe's second generation polar-orbiting operational meteorological satellite system to replace the first generation METOP satellites.

In October 2014, Airbus Defense and Space was selected to build these satellites. The design and manufacture of the Satellite B-series will be led by the company’s Friedrichshafen site in Germany.

The METOP-SG Series consists of two subseries with three units in each series with different instrument suites: METOP-SG-A and METOP-SG-B. The Satellite A-series focuses on optical instruments and atmospheric sounders, while the Satellite B-series focuses on microwave instruments. Both types will be based on Airbus Defense and Space’s Astrobus high-power satellite platforms.

The METOP-SG-B series carries following instruments:

  • Microwave Imager (MWI) (ESA)
  • Ice Cloud Imager (ICI) (ESA)
  • Scatterometer (SCA) (ESA)
  • Radio Occultation (RO) (ESA)
  • Advanced Data Collection (ADCS-4, Argos-4) (CNES)

The first METOP-SG A will be launched on a Soyuz-ST-B Fregat-MT rocket. Later satellites might also use the Ariane-62 launcher.

Nation: Europe
Type / Application: Meteorology
Operator: ESA, EUMETSAT
Contractors: Airbus Defense and Space
Equipment:
Configuration: ?
Propulsion:
Power: Deployable solar array, batteries
Lifetime: 7.5 years
Mass: ~ 4000 kg
Orbit: SSO
Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
METOP-SG-B 1 - 2025 Ko ELA-4 Ariane-62
METOP-SG-B 2 - 2032 Ko ELA-4 Ariane-62
METOP-SG-B 3 - 2039 Ko ELA-4 Ariane-62

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