Metop-B, the second satellite of the EUMETSAT Polar System, in orbit

The EUMETSAT Polar System is EUMETSAT’s contribution to the Global Meteorological Satellite Observing System in the polar sun-synchronous orbit and serves, in the frame of the Initial Joint Polar System (IJPS) with the United States, the mid-morning orbit. The space segment is composed of the Metop satellites, of which Metop-A is in orbit since 2006, providing a wealth of Earth Observation data, amongst them data for Atmospheric Sounding, cloud and surface monitoring, ocean observation, including ocean winds, atmospheric composition monitoring. The launch of Metop-B on the 17 September 2013 into the same mid-morning orbit (9:30 LST equator crossing time, descending node, phased 48 min. apart from Metop-A) at 820 km assures the continuity of the system. A third Metop satellite (Metop-C), scheduled for launch early 2018, will assure mission duration of at least 15 years. This paper discusses the status of the EUMETSAT Polar System (EPS) and in particular presents the results from Metop-B commissioning and the actual status of products. Metop-B is out of its commissioning at the time of the conference and is providing its service as the prime satellite together with Metop-A, which is healthy and continues its successful service.