- Meteosat 8
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Meteosat 8 is a weather satellite, also known as MSG 1. The Meteosat series are operated by EUMETSAT under the Meteosat Transition Programme (MTP) and the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) program. Notable for imaging the first meteor to be predicted to strike the earth, 2008 TC3.[1] Launched 28 Aug 2002 by an Ariane V155, this European Meteorology satellite is in a Geostationary orbit.
While Meteosat 8 meteorological instruments are working OK, its solid state power amplifier SSPA-C failed in October 2002.
On 22 May 2007, the satellite experienced an unexpected orbit change. This was initially inappropriately assessed as being hit by an unknown object, but that was later assessed as not credible. [2] The thermal protection was damaged at the same time as the orbit change. Subsequent investigation assessed the Meteosat-8 spinning spacecraft's orbit change due to the mass release of thermal covering whose attachment failed. Meteosat-8 is still performing a Rapid Scan Mission over Europe and is backup to the Met9 primary European Service.[3]
References
- ^ "ASTEROID IMPACT". SpaceWeather.com. 2008-10-08. http://www.spaceweather.com/index.php. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
- ^ "Meteosat-8 [MSG-1"]. EUMETSAT. 9 July 2007. http://sat-nd.com/failures/msg1.html. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
- ^ "MSG 1". The Satellite Encyclopedia. 31 Aug 2008. http://www.tbs-satellite.com/tse/online/sat_meteosat_8.html. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
Categories:- Weather satellites
- Atmospheric science stubs
- Spacecraft stubs
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