MetOp Second Generation (MetOp-SG)

The MetOp weather satellites complement the long-standing Meteosat satellites.

MetOp Second Generation is a series of six meteorological satellites that will act as successors to the first generation of the MetOp series. The mission is divided into two distinct satellites, MetOp-SG A and B, with complementary sensor payloads that will orbit in tandem. MetOp Second Generation is a series of six meteorological satellites that will act as successors to the first generation of the MetOp series. The mission is divided into two distinct satellites, MetOp-SG A and B, with complementary sensor payloads that will orbit in tandem.

Key features of this mission are the continued provision of information to improve numerical weather prediction in Europe and worldwide, and the provision of more detailed observations than are available from geostationary orbit, particularly at high latitudes where geostationary measurements are not available. The MetOp weather satellites complement the long-standing Meteosat satellites, which are in geostationary orbit. The MetOp satellites orbit the Earth at an altitude of just over 800 km and cover the Earth every five days.

Space Structures GmbH team provided Structures Engineering, Fatigue and Fracture Control, Test Engineering, Craig-Bampton Model Condensation and Vibro-Acoustic Analysis services for the spacecraft platform, Satellite A1 (including 3MI, NISRO, METimage instruments) and Satellite B1 (including ICI, CDPU and MWI instruments). Please refer to the detailed description of services for each instrument below.