Satellite characteristics

Launch Date - End 18 October 2006 -

Status Operational

Orbit type Near-circular sun-synchronous polar morning orbit

Altitude 817

Orbit inclination 98.7

Equatorial crossing time 09:30:00

Satellite family: MetOp (Operational Meteorological Satellites)

The Meteorological Operational satellite programme (MetOp) is a new European undertaking providing weather data services that will be used to monitor climate and improve weather forecasts. The MetOp programme’s series of three satellites has been jointly established by ESA and the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), forming the space segment of EUMETSAT's Polar System (EPS).

Sensor characteristics

Sensor name AMSU (Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit)
Sensor short description
Sensor type Atmospheric instrument
Resolution class Very Low (> 1 km)
Swath width (at nadir) 1690 km
Revisit frequency 1 dagen
Max look angle 50 °
Sensor name ASCAT (Advanced Wind Scatterometer)
Sensor short description
Sensor type Scatterometer
Resolution class NA
Swath width (at nadir) 500 km
Sensor name AVHRR3 (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer 3)
Sensor short description
Sensor type Imaging radiometer (Vis/IR)
Resolution class Very Low (> 1 km)
Swath width (at nadir) 2900 km
Revisit frequency 1 dagen
Sensor name GOME-2 (Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment-2)
Sensor short description
Sensor type Atmospheric instrument
Resolution class NA
Swath width (at nadir) 960 km
Sensor name GRAS (GNSS Receiver for Atmospheric Sounding)
Sensor short description
Sensor type Atmospheric instrument
Resolution class Very Low (> 1 km)
Sensor name HIRS (High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder)
Sensor short description
Sensor type Imaging radiometer (Vis/IR)
Resolution class Very Low (> 1 km)
Sensor name IASI (Improved Atmospheric Sounder Interferometer)
Sensor short description
Sensor type Atmospheric instrument
Resolution class NA
Swath width (at nadir) 2000 km
Sensor name MHS (Microwave Humidity Sounder)
Sensor short description
Sensor type Atmospheric instrument
Resolution class NA
Swath width (at nadir) 2000 km