EUMETSAT Annual Report 2021

EUMETSAT ANNUAL REPORT 2021
PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT
In July, an end-to-end test was performed with the Ocean and Sea
Ice Satellite Application Facility (SAF), the Land Surface Analysis
SAF, and the Hydrology and Water Management SAF, which were
integrated into the Flexible Combined Imager production chain to
generate their products.
These three SAFs integrated a version of their software package,
which was delivered by the Nowcasting and Very-Short Range
Forecasting SAF for the updates required by the Flexible Combined
Imager on board the MTG-I1 satellite. The complete loop was an
exercise giving confidence in the maturity of the data processing
chain: from ground station transmission to level 1C product
processing, distribution, archiving and dissemination, to level 2/level 3
production at the SAFs, with subsequent transmission, archiving and
further dissemination.
After the dedicated check point related to the Sentinel-4 mission,
the system critical design review for the MTG-S (sounding)
mission was kicked off in July, showing the good shape of the
system design and interfaces. For the MTG-I (imaging) mission,
in November, the operational scenario validation readiness review
gave the green light to start the system validation activities.
EUMETSAT POLAR SYSTEM - SECOND GENERATION
Further progress was achieved in the development of Metop-SG
instruments in 2021, some being provided by partners, the French
Space Agency. CNES, Deutsches Zentrum fÜr Luft-und Raumfahrt
(DLR) and the European Commission.
The integration of the IASI-NG instrument was completed and
testing at instrument level started, before delivery planned for
2022. The METimage and Sentinel-5 instruments’ intermediate
integration models were delivered and integrated into the Metop-
SGA proto flight model. The ARGOS instrument was delivered for
integration on the Metop-SGB proto flight model.
At space segment level, the Metop-SGA proto flight model
completed the integration phase of all platform units, except the
solar array, and passed the qualification review in July 2021. The
Metop-SGB proto flight model integration also progressed quickly,
with most mechanical and electrical units already integrated.
Metop-SG compatibility with the Ariane 6 launcher was confirmed.
Cooperation with United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration reached an important milestone at the Joint Polar
System integration, verification and validation key point. This
confirmed the achievements reached with regard to verification
activities at Svalbard in 2021 and endorsed the plan for the
McMurdo ground station.
Integrating the Metop-SGA1 satellite platform at Airbus Defense and Space, Toulouse (credit: ESA/Airbus Defense and Space)
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