 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 by Staff Writers Berlin, Germany (SPX) Sep 21, 2016
Airbus Defence and Space has been commissioned by the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) to develop and build three flight units of the innovative METimage weather instruments. The partners have signed the euro 291 million contract in Berlin. METimage is a multispectral imaging radiometer for meteorological applications. The instrument generates information about clouds, aerosols, the Earth's surface and their respective temperatures in 20 channels, from visible to infrared wavelengths (443 nanometres to 13.3 micrometres), with a higher accuracy than current instruments. By constantly scanning, it can see from horizon to horizon and covers the entire Earth within one day - with a spatial resolution of 500 metres. METimage thus makes an important contribution to weather and climate forecasts. Within 1.7 seconds, a 12 kilometre wide and 2,670 kilometres long area of the Earth's surface is observed using a scan mirror oriented perpendicular to the flight direction. Three sensors, two of which are infrared sensors operating at cryogenic temperatures of below -210C, deliver the 20 channels of data. With 26 different components, METimage is one of the most complex instruments Airbus Defence and Space is working on. Michael Menking, Senior Vice President Earth Observation, Navigation and Science at Airbus Defence and Space said: "Our skills and experience will enable Airbus Defence and Space to deliver these ground-breaking, impressive instruments. Through METimage we are expanding our contribution to the Metop-Second Generation programme, providing data which is vital for European meteorology and Earth observation." The METimage instruments produced in Friedrichshafen will be used on the 'A' satellites of the new Metop-SG (Second Generation) polar-orbiting weather satellites from ESA/Eumetsat from 2021. The 'A' satellites with optical instruments are being developed and built at Airbus Defence and Space in Toulouse and the 'B' satellites with microwave instruments are produced at Airbus Defence and Space in Friedrichshafen.
Related Links METimage at DLR Earth Observation News - Suppiliers, Technology and Application
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us. |
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
Google
