The MetOp-SG B satellite structure being integrated with the propulsion module. Copyright Airbus – M. Pikelj

The first ‘B’ model of the next generation polar orbiting weather satellite series MetOp-SG has received its rocket pack. In a tricky, millimetre-precise crane operation at Airbus’ German satellite integration centre in Friedrichshafen, the 6m high satellite structure was integrated with its propulsion system.

The rocket pack, built by Airbus in Stevenage, can accommodate 760kg of hydrazine fuel to maintain the satellite’s attitude and orbit throughout its mission and, very importantly, enable a controlled re-entry over the South Pacific at the end of the satellite's mission, in accordance with the international space debris mitigation standards.

The propulsion system includes twelve thrusters of 20 Newton (N) each for nominal orbit and anti-collision manoeuvres. Finally, the tank and the 400N main engine complete the propulsion system.

The MetOp-SG programme is being implemented by the European Space Agency (ESA) in collaboration with EUMETSAT. The MetOp-SG satellite fleet consists of six satellites and will secure the continuation of meteorological observations from a polar orbit in the 2024-2045 timeframe.

Comprehensive data from the suite of innovative European instruments will feed into forecasting models taking observations to a new standard.

Each satellite, with a launch mass of over four tons, will be launched separately. The satellites will be placed on the MetOp sun-synchronous polar orbit, at an average altitude of 831km. The nominal operational life of each satellite is 7.5 years.

After seven years, the subsequent satellite of the same series will be launched, ensuring full operational coverage over a period of 21 years with a pair of A and B type satellites always in orbit. The first launch of a MetOp-SG satellite is currently scheduled for early 2024.

MetOp-SG will provide enhanced infrared, microwave, and radio-occultation soundings of temperature and humidity; polar atmospheric motion vectors extracted from optical imagery; novel precipitation and cloud measurements from imagers in the optical, sub-millimetre and microwave spectra; and high-resolution ocean surface wind-vector and soil moisture measurements extracted from scatterometer observations.

This data will help improve numerical weather prediction - the backbone of our daily weather forecasts - at regional and global levels.

MetOp-SG comprises two series of satellites, with three units in each series. The Satellite A series carries optical instruments and atmospheric sounders, while the Satellite B series features microwave instruments.

The A series satellites are being developed and built under the industrial lead of Airbus in Toulouse (France), and the design and manufacture of the B series satellites is led by the company’s Friedrichshafen site in Germany.

Airbus leads an industrial consortium comprising more than 110 companies in 16 European countries and Canada, to supply more than 160 different pieces of equipment and services for the satellites’ platforms and instruments.