Photo: EUMETSAT

[Via Satellite 09-23-2016] The European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) has shifted Meteosat 8, the first satellite in the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) series of meteorological satellites, to 41.5 degrees east over the Indian Ocean. There, the satellite will replace Meteosat 7, which is approaching the end of its nearly 20-year lifetime in space.

Previously Meteosat 8 served as a “hot backup” at 3.5 degrees east for Meteosat 9, located over Europe at 9.5 degrees east, and Meteosat 10, located over Europe and Africa, at 0 degrees. EUMETSAT’s flight operations team set the spacecraft on an approximately 80-day journey to reach its new position. The organization used a drift orbit to save fuel and keep a safe distance from other spacecraft.

During the transition, EUMETSAT also tested out a number of the satellite’s instruments. A complete validation test campaign for the new service follows, which includes about two months of parallel operations with Meteosat 7, with data dissemination to users. These tests will lead to a formal operational readiness review preceding operational service early next year.

Meteosat 8 is EUMETSAT’s contribution to the Indian Ocean Data Coverage (IODC) service, and will work together with India’s INSAT 3D, at 82 degrees east, China’s FY-2E at 86.5 degrees east and Russia’s Elektro L N2 at 77.8 degrees east in an international, cooperative arrangement.