The Complete Book of Spaceflight: From Apollo 1 to Zero Gravity

278 meteor deflection screen
indicate that it would launch a geostationary weather
satellite as early as 1978, but it was the mid-1990s before
the promised spacecraft, GOMS (Geostationary Operational
Meteorological Satellite), finally took off.
meteor deflection screen
See Whipple shield.
meteorological satellite
See weather satellite.
Meteosat
A series of European geostationary weather satellites
developed in conjunction with GARP (Global Atmospheric
Research Program). Although ESA (European
Space Agency) originated and continues to control the
Meteosat network, Eumetsat (European Meteorological
Satellite Organisation), created between 1981 and 1986,
has overall responsibility for the system. The main goal
of the Meteosats is to supply 24-hour visible and infrared
cloud cover and radiance data. Three preoperational craft
were launched between 1977 and 1988 before the
Meteosat Operational Program (MOP) began with the
launch of Meteosat 4. Meteosat satellites closely resemble
their American and Japanese counterparts. (See table,
“Meteosat Series.”)
Size: 3 × 2.1 m
On-orbit dry mass: 320 kg
MetOp (Meteorological Operational) satellites
Polar-orbiting meteorological satellites, three of which
are planned as part of the Eumetsat Polar System (EPS)
program. They will carry instruments provided by ESA
(European Space Agency), Eumetsat (European Meteorological
Satellite Organisation), NOAA (National Oceanic
Meteosat Series
and Atmospheric Administration), and CNES (the
French space agency), with the aim of improving upon
the established service provided by NOAA satellites.
MetOp 1 is scheduled for launch in 2005.
microgravity
The condition of near-weightlessness induced by free fall
or unpowered spaceflight. It is characterized by the virtual
absence of gravity-induced convection, hydrostatic
pressure, and sedimentation.
MicroLab
A microsatellite that carries a NASA lightning mapper
called the Optical Transient Detector. It also carries a
weather sensor for the National Science Foundation,
employing a GPS-MET receiver that monitors transmissions
from any GPS (Global Positioning System) spacecraft
near the horizon in order to infer values of
temperature and humidity in its path. The spacecraft is
now known as OrbView-1 and is operated commercially
by ORBIMAGE.
Launch
Date: April 3, 1995
Vehicle: Pegasus
Site: Vandenberg Air Force Base
Orbit: 733 × 747 km × 70.0°
Mass: 76 kg
micrometeoroid protection
Methods used to protect spacecraft components from
micrometeoroid impacts. They range from structural
positioning to shield sensitive hardware, to placement of
protective blankets on the spacecraft exterior. Interplanetary
probes typically use tough blankets of Kevlar or
other strong materials to absorb the energy of highvelocity
dust particles.
Spacecraft Date
Launch
Vehicle Site GSO Location
Meteosat 1 Nov. 23, 1977 Delta 2914 Cape Canaveral 0° E
Meteosat 2 Jun. 19, 1981 Ariane 1 Kourou 0° E
Meteosat 3 Jun. 15, 1988 Ariane 44LP Kourou 0° E
Meteosat 4 Mar. 6, 1989 Ariane 44LP Kourou 0° E
Meteosat 5 Jun. 15, 1988 Ariane 44LP Kourou 4° E
Meteosat 6 Nov. 15, 1993 Ariane 44LP Kourou 0° E
Meteosat 7 Sep. 2, 1997 Ariane 44LP Kourou 10° W