metopas

MetOp-A is the first satellite in the MetOp series, a collaborative program between the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) and the European Space Agency (ESA). Launched on October 19, 2006, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, MetOp-A is part of the Polar System for weather observation, designed to improve medium-range weather forecasting and monitor the Earth's climate.

Operating in a Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of approximately 817 kilometers, MetOp-A circles the Earth 14 times daily, providing global coverage. The satellite carries a suite of advanced instruments, including the Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment-2 (GOME-2), the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-B (AMSU-B), the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI), and the Scanning Microwave Radiometer (MWR), among others. These instruments measure atmospheric temperature, humidity, ozone levels, and other key climate variables with high precision.

MetOp-A plays a crucial role in improving weather prediction models by delivering data that enhances understanding of atmospheric dynamics. Its observations also contribute to climate research, air quality monitoring, and oceanography. The satellite operates as part of a constellation with NOAA’s Polar Operational Environmental Satellites (POES), ensuring continuous global coverage.

After nearly a decade of successful operation, MetOp-A was decommissioned in November 2021, following the launch of its successor, MetOp-SG-A, as part of the next-generation MetOp Second Generation program. Its data legacy continues to support meteorological and climate studies, demonstrating the importance of long-term satellite observations in advancing scientific knowledge.