MetOp-SG-A1 and Sentinel-5 pre-launch media briefing

The first MetOp Second Generation satellite, MetOp-SG-A1, which also carries the Copernicus Sentinel-5 mission, is expected to launch in August aboard an Ariane 6 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

The European Space Agency and its partners are pleased to invite journalists to a pre-launch media briefing to be held on Monday, 28 July at 14:00 CEST.

Journalists interested to learn more about these two missions are invited to register here Media form – ESA forms by Friday 25 July COB.

The briefing will be held in English, livestreamed on ESA Web TV and recorded. 

Speakers will include:

• Simonetta Cheli, Director of Earth Observation Programmes at ESA
• Phil Evans, Director-General at Eumetsat 
• Elisabeth Hamdouch, Deputy Head of Earth Observation Unit at the European Commission
• Simon Brown, Managing Director for Products and Services at the UK Met Office

About MetOp Second Generation

Data from the first-generation MetOp satellites have been the most significant factor in enhancing the accuracy of European weather forecasts for periods ranging from 12 hours to 10 days. But now it’s time for the MetOp-Second Generation mission, or MetOp-SG for short, to take over the reigns – not only ensure the continuity of global observations from polar orbit for weather forecasting and climate analysis, but to do it even better.

Unlike the original MetOp series of three successive single satellites, the all-new MetOp-SG mission comprises three successive pairs of satellites. Each MetOp-SG pair is made up of an A-type and a B-type satellite that carry a different, but complementary, suite of remarkable instruments. The package totals ten different instruments across both satellites, some of which are based on the sound heritage of the first MetOp series, and some of which are completely new.

The A-type satellites carry six instruments: a next-generation infrared atmospheric sounder, a microwave sounder, a multispectral imaging radiometer, a novel multiviewing, multichannel, multipolarisation imager, a radio occultation sounder (which is also embarked on the MetOp-B satellites), and the Copernicus Sentinel-5 spectrometer.

The type-B satellites carry five instruments: a scatterometer, the other radio occultation sounder, a novel microwave imager, a novel ice-cloud imager, and an Argos-4 data collection system.

The first MetOp-SG satellite, an A-type, MetOp-SG-A1, is scheduled for launch in August.

The mission is thanks to the long-standing cooperation between ESA and Eumetsat, where ESA is responsible for designing and building the satellites, and Eumetsat procures the launch service, develops the ground segment, operates the satellites and provides the data to the worldwide meteorological user community.

About Copernicus Sentinel-5

Building on the success of the Copernicus Sentinel-5 Precursor satellite, the new Copernicus Sentinel-5 mission introduces an advanced imaging spectrometer. This cutting-edge instrument is integrated into the MetOp Second Generation A-type weather satellites, working in synergy with other onboard instruments.

Sentinel-5 delivers daily global data on key air pollutants, essential climate variables, and stratospheric ozone that protects us from ultraviolet radiation. The mission’s high-resolution imaging spectrometer operates across seven spectral bands, spanning the ultraviolet, visible, near-infrared and shortwave infrared ranges to measure a host of trace gases, including ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, formaldehyde, glyoxal, carbon monoxide, and methane, as well as aerosols and UV index. Additionally, the instrument will probe the vertical distribution on some of these components.

The first Sentinel-5 instrument, Sentinel-5A, is scheduled for launch aboard the MetOp-SG-A1 satellite in August.

The Copernicus Sentinel-5 mission is the result of close cooperation between ESA, the European Commission, Eumetsat, industry, service providers and data users.

More information

https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth

https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Meteorological_missions/MetOp_Second_Generation

https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/The_Sentinel-5_mission

https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Ariane

https://www.eumetsat.int/

https://www.copernicus.eu/en

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About the European Space Agency

The European Space Agency (ESA) provides Europe’s gateway to space.  

ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.  

ESA has 23 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia are Associate Members.  

ESA has established formal cooperation with four Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.  

By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. It is working in particular with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes as well as with Eumetsat for the development of meteorological missions.  

Learn more about ESA at www.esa.int