In Photos: Europe Launches MetOp-C Weather Satellite

By Space.com Staff
published

Metop-C
An artist's impression of the Metop-C satellite in orbit (Image credit: ESA)

MetOp-C

ESA/CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO

MetOp-C, the third and final spacecraft of the European Meteorological Operational satellite program (MetOp), launched into orbit on Nov. 6, 2018. See photos of the mission here! [Full Story: Soyuz Rocket Launches European Weather Satellite MetOp-C Into Orbit]

MetOp-C Lifts Off!

Arianespace

An Arianespace Soyuz rocket lifts off from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana, to deliver the European weather satellite MetOp-C into orbit on Nov. 6, 2018. [Full Story: Soyuz Rocket Launches European Weather Satellite MetOp-C Into Orbit]

MetOp-C Soyuz Rocket Booster

Arianespace

An Arianespace Soyuz rocket sits atop its launch awaiting the installation of the European MetOp-C weather satellite ahead of a planned launch from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana on Nov. 6, 2018.

Ignition!

Arianespace

An Arianespace Soyuz rocket carrying the MetOp-C weather satellite launches into space from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana on Nov. 6, 2018.

Unloading MetOp-C

ESA/CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO

The MetOp-C satellite is unloaded from an Antonov cargo plane near the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

Ascent

Arianespace

An Arianespace Soyuz rocket carrying the MetOp-C weather satellite launches into space from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana on Nov. 6, 2018.

Ready to Launch!

ESA-CNES-ARIANESPACE/Optique vidéo du CSG/CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO

The MetOp-C weather satellite sits in position on the Arianespace Soyuz rocket in the launch tower ahead of its liftoff from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

The Large Space Simulator

G. Porter/ESA/CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO

In this vacuum chamber, the MetOp-C satellite underwent extensive tests to make sure it was ready for launch. But first, scientists had to make sure the Large Space Simulator was ready to tackle those tests, so they set up all the equipment and tested it before bringing MetOp-C inside.

The Large Space Simulator

G. Porter/ESA/CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO

MetOp-C's payload module enters Europe’s largest vacuum chamber, the Large Space Simulator, during testing in March 2017.

Last-Minute Checks

S. Carlier/ESA/CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO

Engineers at the Guiana Space Center work to prepare the MetOp-C satellite for launch.

Preparing MetOp-C for Launch

ESA-CNES-ARIANESPACE/Optique vidéo du CSG/CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO

Engineers at the Guiana Space Center work to prepare the MetOp-C satellite for launch.

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.

Space.com Staff
Space.com Staff
News and editorial team

Space.com is the premier source of space exploration, innovation and astronomy news, chronicling (and celebrating) humanity's ongoing expansion across the final frontier. Originally founded in 1999, Space.com is, and always has been, the passion of writers and editors who are space fans and also trained journalists. Our current news team consists of Editor-in-Chief Tariq Malik; Editor Hanneke Weitering, Senior Space Writer Mike Wall; Senior Writer Meghan Bartels; Senior Writer Chelsea Gohd, Senior Writer Tereza Pultarova and Staff Writer Alexander Cox, focusing on e-commerce. Senior Producer Steve Spaleta oversees our space videos, with Diana Whitcroft as our Social Media Editor.