Weather Satellite with Vienna Components Successfully Launched into Space

More accurate weather forecasts - this is what the new European weather satellite Metop-SGA1 aims to enable. The satellite lifted off at night (Tuesday evening local time) aboard an Ariane-6 rocket from the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Its target is a low Earth orbit - about 830 kilometers from our planet.

The client and weather satellite operator Eumetsat described it as a "remarkably exciting moment." The spacecraft is a "masterpiece of European technology" - part of which comes from Austria. According to the European Space Agency ESA, the launch was successful.

Vienna Space Company Provided Thermal Insulation and Electronics

Metop-SGA1 is the first of a new generation of weather satellites. A total of 17 countries and 110 companies contributed, including the Vienna-based space company Beyond Gravity. They provided the thermal insulation for the probe, which is expected to deliver data for about seven and a half years. Additionally, the space supplier is responsible for the electronics of one of the satellite's central weather data instruments.

According to Eumetsat, the new satellite is expected to deliver not only more data but also more frequently. At METImage, they anticipate much more precise information in cloud, water vapor, and ice sheet observation due to significantly higher resolution. The more accurate data on clouds is also expected to help identify thunderstorm clouds.

European Satellite for Better Weather Forecasting

According to ESA, the new satellite is expected to improve both very short-term weather forecasts and forecasts for up to twelve days. Even the first generation of Metop satellites significantly reduced the error rate in weather forecasting, according to Eumetsat.

However, it may take a while before Metop-SGA1 delivers the first data. About a year is planned to properly adjust the spacecraft, synchronize the instruments, and make the satellite operational. It is expected to be in operation for a total of 7.5 years.

What sets Metop-SGA1 apart from other weather satellites?

Just a few weeks ago, another European weather satellite was launched into space to improve forecasts, particularly with regard to extreme weather events such as flash floods and hurricanes: MTG-S1. The MTG satellites are geostationary. This means that from the Earth's perspective, they are always at the same point over the equator. And at an enormous altitude: MTG-S1 flies at about 36,000 kilometers high.

In contrast, Metop-SGA1 is much closer to Earth. In its polar orbit, it also observes the important polar regions, which is challenging for geostationary satellites. While the MTG series only captures a section of the Earth, Metop-SGA1 observes the entire planet during its orbit around the Earth.

(APA/Red)

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