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MetOp-SG-A1 is the first unit of a pair of next generation satellites that will orbit the Earth together 14 times a day. The satellites will be monitoring weather and climate for the next two decades, providing observation of any location on Earth.

In total three satellite pairs will launch over the next twenty years.

EUMETSAT

The MetOp mission is part of the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites’ (EUMETSAT) Polar System. This is Europe’s first contribution to the Joint Polar System shared with the USA’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

It is also part of a long-standing cooperation between EUMETSAT and the European Space Agency (ESA). The Metop-SG satellites are developed under ESA contract by a European industrial consortium led by Airbus Defence and Space.

The Chelmsford-based company supplied detectors for three instruments on board the MetOp-SG-A1 satellite. For Sentinel-5 and METimage, Teledyne delivered the CCD314 (above) and CIS119 (below) to Airbus Defence and Space. For the Multiviewing, Multichannel, Multipolarisation Imager (3MI), the company worked with SELEX Galileo, now Leonardo Electronics US, on the CCD327-20.

Heritage

“We are extremely proud to see our sensors in three out of the six instruments onboard MetOp-SG-A1,” said Daniel Waller, VP and General Manager of Teledyne Space Imaging. “It is testament to our heritage that Teledyne Space Imaging is entrusted to provide market-leading high quality, reliable sensors that meet the technical requirements.”

“This second-generation series of satellites will ensure Europe can continue monitoring weather and climate for the next 20 years, as well as providing key data for nowcasting. Our team are looking forward to being part of this new chapter in Earth observation.”

GOSAT-GW

It was a busy month for Teledyne Space Imaging in July, too. The company launched four CCDs into space in one week.

This was beginning with CIS120 sensors launched on the Japanese space mission GOSAT-GW (Global Observing SATellite for Greenhouse gases and Water cycle).

Images: Teledyne

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