WMO OSCAR | Satellite: Metop-A

Satellite: Metop-A

Satellite details

Acronym	Metop-A
Full name	Meteorological operational satellite - A
WIGOS Station Identifier	---
Satellite Description	1st flight unit of the EPS programme. Main mission: operational meteorology. Substantial contribution to ocean and ice monitoring, climate monitoring, atmospheric chemistry, and space weather.
Mass at launch	4085 kg	Dry mass	3769 kg
Power	1810 W
Data access link	https://navigator.eumetsat.int/search?query=metop-a%20level-1&s=s
Data access information	Direct Broadcast (AHRPT): Real-time availability of AMSU-A, ASCAT. AVHRR, GOME-2, GRAS, HIRS/4, IASI, MHS, DCP messages and SEM/2 (MEDEP + TED). LRPT not available. Near-real-time availability of extended-area coverage data by EARS. Near-real time availability of Level 1 data by EUMETCast. Alert messages of S&RSAT to LUT in real time.
Orbit	Sunsynchronous orbit	Altitude	827 km
ECT	07:50 desc

Space agency	EUMETSAT , ESA
Status	Inactive
Details on Status (as available)	LRPT failed soon after launch, one AHRPT transmitter failed 6 months later. Global data disseminated by EUMETCast became the primary dissemination system. As of Sept 2008 the redundant AHRPT unit is utilised for a partial coverage, enabling the reception and retransmission of NRT data by EARS. Operating as back-up / secondary in parallel with Metop-B since 24 April 2013. For lifetime extension active orbit control has been suspended. Officially retired on 15 November 2021. Planned to be de-orbited in December 2021.
Launch	19 Oct 2006	EOL	15 Nov 2021
Last update:	2024-04-15

Associated satellite programme and related satellites

Note: red tag: no longer operational , green tag: operational , blue tag : future

EUMETSAT Polar System
- Metop-A (2006 - 2021)
- Metop-B (2012 - 2026)
- Metop-C (2018 - 2027)

Satellite Payload

All known Instruments flying on Metop-A

Acronym	Full name
A-DCS	Advanced Data Collection System (also called "Argos-3")
AMSU-A	Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit - A
ASCAT	Advanced Scatterometer
AVHRR/3	Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer / 3
GOME-2	Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment - 2
GRAS	GNSS Receiver for Atmospheric Sounding
HIRS/4	High-resolution Infra Red Sounder / 4
IASI	Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer
MHS	Microwave Humidity Sounding
S&RSAT	Search & Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking System
SEM/TED	SEM / Total Energy Detector
SEM/MEPED	SEM / Medium energy proton detector

Satellite payload

All known instruments flying on Metop-A

Instrument	Full name	Start date	EOL date	Status	NRT data	Instrument calibration	Comments
A-DCS	Advanced Data Collection System (also called "Argos-3")	15 Jan 2007	15 Nov 2021	N/A	No	user.eumetsat.int
AMSU-A	Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit - A	15 Jan 2007	15 Nov 2021	N/A	No	user.eumetsat.int	The AMSU-A channel 50.3 and 54.95 GHz are experiencing increasing noise, and have exceeded the threshold in September 2013.
ASCAT	Advanced Scatterometer	15 Jan 2007	15 Nov 2021	N/A	No	user.eumetsat.int
AVHRR/3	Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer / 3	15 Jan 2007	15 Nov 2021	N/A	No	user.eumetsat.int
GOME-2	Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment - 2	15 Jan 2007	15 Nov 2021	N/A	No	user.eumetsat.int
GRAS	GNSS Receiver for Atmospheric Sounding	15 Jan 2007	15 Nov 2021	N/A	No	user.eumetsat.int
HIRS/4	High-resolution Infra Red Sounder / 4	15 Jan 2007	15 Nov 2021	N/A	No	user.eumetsat.int	High noise levels on all LW and SW channels since April 2015.
IASI	Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer	15 Jan 2007	15 Nov 2021	N/A	No	user.eumetsat.int
MHS	Microwave Humidity Sounding	15 Jan 2007	15 Nov 2021	N/A	No	user.eumetsat.int	Ch 157 GHz out of spec since April 2016.
S&RSAT	Search & Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking System	15 Jan 2007	15 Nov 2021	N/A	No	user.eumetsat.int
SEM/TED	SEM / Total Energy Detector	15 Jan 2007	15 Nov 2021	N/A	No	user.eumetsat.int
SEM/MEPED	SEM / Medium energy proton detector	15 Jan 2007	15 Nov 2021	N/A	No

* The information in this field is estimated or assumed

Satellite frequencies for Earth Observation, data transfer and platform communications and control

Frequencies for satellite management

Service	Direction	Frequency (MHz)	Emission designator	Bandwidth (kHz)	Polarisation	D/A	Data rate (kbps) or Baseband (kHz)	Comments
S & RSAT	E-S	406.05 MHz	100KG1D	100 kHz	linear	D	2.4 kbps	Distress messages - beacon bandwidth: 3 kHz
S & RSAT	S-E	1544.5 MHz	200KG1D	200 kHz	linear	D	2.4 kbps	Distress messages to LUT
TC & Ranging	E-S	2053.4583 MHz	1M50G1D	1500 kHz	RHCP	D	2 kbps	Telecommand and ranging
TM	S-E	2230 MHz	2M00G1D	2000 kHz	RHCP	D	4.096 kbps	Telemetry

Earth observation MW frequencies

Service	Sensing mode	Frequency (GHz)	Bandwidth (MHz)	Polarisation	Comments
AMSU-A	passive	23.8 GHz	270 MHz	V	Water vapour channel
AMSU-A	passive	31.4 GHz	180 MHz	V	Window channel
AMSU-A	passive	50.12 GHz - 57.62 GHz	0 MHz	H or V	Oxygen band, 12 channels
AMSU-A	passive	89 GHz	6000 MHz	V	Window channel
MHS	passive	89 GHz	2800 MHz	V	Window channel
MHS	passive	157 GHz	2800 MHz	V	Weak water vapour channel
MHS	passive	179.31 GHz - 191.31 GHz	0 MHz	H or V	Water vapour band, 3 channels
ASCAT	active	5.255 GHz	1 MHz	-	C-band scatterometer

Frequencies for scientific data acquisition and communication services at ground stations

Service	Direction	Frequency (MHz)	Bandwidth (kHz)	Polarisation	D/A	Data rate (kbps) or Baseband (kHz)	Comments
GDS	S-E	7800 MHz	63000 kHz	RHCP	D	70000 kbps	Raw data
AHRPT	S-E	1701.3 MHz	4500 kHz	RHCP	D	3500 kbps	High resolution data - not in use
AHRPT	S-E	1707 MHz	4500 kHz	RHCP	D	3500 kbps	High resolution data - used part time
LRPT	S-E	137.1 MHz	150 kHz	RHCP	D	72 kbps	Selected data - not in use
LRPT	S-E	137.9125 MHz	150 kHz	RHCP	D	72 kbps	Selected data - backup, not in use
ADCS	E-S	401.585 MHz	10 kHz	RHCP	D	0.4/4.8 kbps	DCP reports
ADCS	S-E	465.9875 MHz	1 kHz	RHCP	D	0.2/0.4 kbps	DCP configuration control