EUMETSAT and DLR sign agreement for METimage instruments to fly on Metop-Second Generation satellite

Today, EUMETSAT’s Director-General, Alain Ratier, and Dr. Gerd Gruppe, Director of Space Administration at Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR ), signed a cooperation agreement for the development of the METimage instrument to be flown on three successive Metop-SG A satellites of the EUMETSAT Polar System Second Generation (EPS-SG ) in the 2021-2042 timeframe.

The agreement ensures the inclusion of the visible infrared imaging radiometer, METimage, as part of the payload of the Metop-SG A1, A2 and A3 satellites. The METimage advanced radiometer will provide moderate-resolution optical imaging of clouds, aerosols, and surface variables, in 20 spectral channels, benefitting applications such as Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP), Nowcasting at high latitudes, Oceanography, Climate monitoring, Hydrology and land monitoring.

Under the agreement, DLR will develop the first METimage flight model and data processing algorithms, procure recurrent instruments on behalf of EUMETSAT and provide support to operations.  

EUMETSAT will fund 30% of the development costs for the METimage system and the full costs of recurrent instruments. Also, EUMETSAT will operate the METimage instruments as part of EPS SG throughout its entire lifetime and cover the related costs. 

EUMETSAT’s  Director-General, Alain Ratier said, “The EPS-SG system requires a suite of advanced imaging and sounding instruments to be, as EPS today, the most important source of satellite observations for numerical weather forecasts. This includes METimage and I am very pleased that we have now secured the development of this essential instrument with the signature of this agreement with DLR”

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