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| News 2006 |
30/10/06
EUMETSAT METOP mission
has begun: Telespazio Deutschland is steering
Europe’s new weather lookout in orbit
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Darmstadt, 19 October 2006. METOP-A, the first in a new series of European meteorological satellites designed to monitor the Earth’s atmosphere from a polar orbit, has been launched successfully: the EUMETSAT METOP mission has begun. With a staff responsible for satellite operation, Telespazio Deutschland plays a key role in this space programme.
Bearing eleven high-tech instruments, METOP-A will be surveying the Earth in the future from an approximate height of only 800 kilometres. Located in a polar orbit, the satellite will provide top-notch data on climate and the environment. The launch was successfully executed by the Satellite Control Centre of ESOC, the European Space Operation Centre of ESA. Now, circling in orbit, METOP-A is controlled by EUMETSAT, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites.
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Telespazio Deutschland: working for ESOC and EUMETSAT
Operation of this new weather satellite is every bit as highly complicated as its technology. Keeping step with the project, engineers from Telespazio Deutschland participated in the development and preparation of the ground facilities.
Our involvement with the EPS/METOP mission started in 2003, with a Telespazio team helping to construct the ground facilities developed by Alcatel Alenia Space in Toulouse, France. Our team spent the last two years at EUMETSAT conducting validation tests and giving the final touches to the complex ground segment, which incorporates satellite control, data distribution and processing of the meteorological products.
An additional operations team supported preparation at ESOC for the launch and early orbit activities – first with a tracking test campaign, then at the ground station in Malindi, Kenya.
Long-term participation in satellite operation
For Telespazio, a new phase in the project will begin once
the satellite has achieved the correct orbit. Long-term
participation at EUMETSAT has been undertaken by our operations
team, who will assume control of the METOP satellites under
a 6-year contract awarded by EUMETSAT to Serco Deutschland
as prime contractor and Telespazio Deutschland as subcontractor.
“Everyone worked intensively during the last years, getting
systems and operational procedures ready in time,” said
Yves Constantin, Managing Director of Telespazio Deutschland.
“I am proud of this multiple involvement of our staff, who
showed professionalism and dedication to mission’s success.
????S? It also demonstrates the unique position of Telespazio in
the field of space operations.”
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