International partners are looking ahead to Europe’s second polar-orbiting mission dedicated to operational meteorology – MetOp-B is set for launch next May. The Meteorological Operational satellite programme is providing weather data services for monitoring the climate and improving weather forecasts.The first satellite in the series, MetOp-A, was launched in 2006. It continues to collect data on Earth’s temperature, humidity, wind speed, ozone and trace gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane.
In six months’ time, MetOp-B will be launched to operate in tandem, guaranteeing the continuous delivery of high-quality data for medium- and long-term weather forecasting and climate monitoring for years to come.
The future MetOp-C will be the third and final satellite in the series, due for launch in 2016.
The programme is a joint venture by ESA and Eumetsat, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites.
