MetOp-SG B1
| Mission type | Meteorology |
|---|---|
| Operator | ESA, EUMETSAT |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Defence and Space |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | October 2026 (planned) |
| Rocket | Ariane 62 |
| Launch site | ELA-4 |
| Contractor | Arianespace |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Sun-synchronous |
| Altitude | 824 km |
| Inclination | 98.7 deg |
| Period | 101.4 minutes |
| Repeat interval | 29 days |
MetOp-SG B1 is a future European weather satellite, the first of the microwave imaging-focused B-type of the MetOp-SG series.[1][2][3][4] It carries five instruments: a scatterometer for observing ocean-surface wind and soil moisture (SCA), a radio occultation sounder to measure atmospheric temperature and humidity (RO), a microwave imager to monitor precipitation and sea-ice extent (MWI), an ice cloud imager to measure water in clouds (ICI), and an Argos-4 data collection system (A-DCS).[5][6][7] Its single solar panel wing is 11 m long with surface of 24 square meters and consists of four segments.[8] The satellite is expected to launch in October 2026 on Ariane 62[9][10][11][8] as the second satellite of the MetOp-SG series after MetOp-SG A1/Sentinel-5A launched in August 2025.[12][13][14][15][16]
References
- ^ "Metop-SG B1". Universiteit Twente. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
- ^ "MetOp-SG (MetOp-Second Generation Program) - eoPortal". www.eoportal.org. Archived from the original on 2024-12-02. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
- ^ "METOP-SG B1 Satellite Mission Summary | CEOS Database". database.eohandbook.com. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
- ^ Aeroespacial, Actualidad (2025-11-24). "La ESA prepara el lanzamiento del próximo satélite meteorológico MetOp de segunda generación". Actualidad Aeroespacial (in Spanish). Retrieved 2026-01-19.
- ^ "METOP-SG-B 1, 2, 3". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
- ^ Pack, Alex (2025-11-25). "MetOp-SG-B1 satellite enters third round of pre-launch tests ahead of 2026 launch". Meteorological Technology International. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
- ^ "WMO OSCAR | Satellite: Metop-SG-B1". space.oscar.wmo.int. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
- ^ a b "First MetOp Second Generation-B satellite spreads its wing". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2026-02-28.
- ^ "METOP-SG B1 | Ariane 62 | Next Spaceflight". nextspaceflight.com. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
- ^ "European Rocket Launches in 2026: Ariane 6, Vega C & New Launchers". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
- ^ Gorman, Douglas (2026-01-09). "ESA Outlines a Busy Year Ahead". Payload. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
- ^ "MetOp-SG-A1 and Sentinel-5 launch highlights". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
- ^ Aeromorning (2025-08-06). "MetOp-SG-A1 and Sentinel-5 launch". AeroMorning. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
- ^ "Arianespace vise 7 à 8 vols Ariane 6 en 2026". Air et Cosmos (in French). 2026-01-14. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
- ^ "MetOp-SG-A1 - New ESA Satellite to Boost Climate and Weather Monitoring to Launch". National Centre for Earth Observation. 2025-08-12. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
- ^ Service, Flanders News (2025-08-12). "ESA launches new satellite to improve weather forecasting and climate analysis". belganewsagency.eu. Retrieved 2026-01-19.