METEOSAT-6
The Meteosat Operational Programme (MOP-3) satellite, launched on November 20, 1993, was the third operational geostationary Meteosat satellite following 3 pre-operational Meteosat satellites (Meteosat-1,-2,-3/P2). The primary goal of the MOP satellites were (1) to provide visible and IR day/night cloudcover data and radiances and (2) disseminate image data to users through the Data Collection Platform (DCP). MOP-3 (or Meteosat 6) is a 2.1 m diameter, 3.195 m high stepped cylindrical body with solar cells on six main body panels. The spacecraft is spin-stabilized 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 stationkeeping is provided by two pairs of large thrusters. Attitude information is provided by Earth horizon and Sun-lit sensors. A radiating diplole antenna directs 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 center at ESA's European Space Operations Center (ESOC). The MOP-3 carries a single imaging radiometer in visible/infrared wavelengths in addition to the Data Collection Platform. To view a 3D orbit, observe the J Track satellite tracking web page: http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/RealTime/JTrack/ For more information on the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Meteosat Program, see the URL: http://www.esrin.esa.it Group: Platform_Details Entry_ID: METEOSAT-6 Group: Platform_Identification Platform_Category: Earth Observation Satellites Platform_Series_or_Entity: METEOSAT Short_Name: METEOSAT-6 Long_Name: Meteosat Operational Programme 3 (MOP-3) End_Group End_Group
Meteosat