Meteosat - Credit: ESA. 24,484 bytes. 196 x 431 pixels.

European Space Agency weather satellite. Operational geostationary Meteosat satellites followed 3 pre-operational versions (Meteosat-1,-2,-3/P2). The primary goal of the Meteosat satellites were (1) to provide visible and IR day/night cloud cover data and radiance and (2) disseminate image data to users through the Data Collection Platform (DCP). Meteosats had a 2.1 m diameter, 3.195 m high stepped cylindrical body with solar cells on six main body panels. The spacecraft was spin-stabilised at 100 rpm around the main axis aligned almost parallel to the Earth's axis with spin regulated by two small hydrazine thrusters. Spin access control and east-west station-keeping was provided by two pairs of large thrusters. Attitude information was provided by Earth horizon and Sun-lit sensors. A radiating dipole antenna directed S-band (333 kbs) transmission of DCP image data to the Data Acquisition, Telemetry, and Tracking Station at Odenwald, Germany for relay to the Meteosat Ground Computer System and Meteosat Operations Control centre at ESA's European Space Operations Centre (ESOC). The Meteosats carried a single imaging radiometer in visible/infrared wavelengths in addition to the Data Collection Platform.

Total Mass: 692 kg.

European Space Agency satellite. Launch time 0135 GMT. Reached definitive position, 0 deg longitude over the Gulf of Guinea, on 7 December. Launched by United States Delta rocket.

Meteosat 2 is a geostationary meteorological satellite, operating within the world wide network of the World Weather Watch of WMO. Its main missions are: Imaging in the visible, IR and water vapour region of the spectrum; data reception from so-called dat a collection platforms (DCPs); data distribution to meteorological services and other interested parties (research institutes etc). Launch time 1233:03 UT. Geostationary position 0 deg E. Designator ESA/81/03.

Stationed at 0 deg. Meteosat P2 is a geostationary meteorological satellite operating within the world wide network of the World Weather Watch of the World Meteorological Organization. Its main missions are: Imaging in the visible, IR and water vapour region of the spectrum; data reception from so-called Data Collection Platforms (DCPs); data distribution to meteorological services and other interested parties (research institutes, etc). Geostationary position 0 deg E. ESA designator ESA/88/02. Launch time 1119:33 UT.

Meteosat Operational Program; weather imaging, atmospheric data; 0 deg. Geostationary meteorological satellite, operating within the world-wide network of the World Weather Watch of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Its main missions are: imaging in the visible, infrared and water vapour region of the spectrum. Dat a reception from so called Data Collection Platforms (DCPs); data distribution to meteorological services and other interested parties (research institutes, etc).

Earth imaging for weather, climatology, atmospheric physics; 4 deg E. Geostationary meteorological satellite, operating within the world-wide network of the World Weather Watch of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Its main missions are: imaging in the visible, infrared and water vapour region of the spectrum. Dat a reception from so called Data Collection Platforms (DCPs); data distribution to meteorological services and other interested parties (research institutes, etc). Launch time 2336:00 UT.

Stationed at 0 deg.

Geosynchronous. Stationed over 10.2W

• 4 - McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Report (Internet Newsletter), Harvard University, Weekly, 1989 to Present. HTML when accessed: ftp://sao-ftp.harvard.edu/pub/jcm/space/news