With launch planned for later this year, testing is well underway to ensure the MetOp Second Generation-B1 weather satellite is ready for its life in orbit around Earth. These checks include verifying that its spectacular four-panel, 11-metre-long, solar wing will deploy correctly.
The MetOp Second Generation (MetOp-SG) mission relies on a duo of complementary satellites to strengthen Europe’s weather forecasting capabilities from polar orbit.
The first, MetOp-SG-A1, was launched in August 2025, and engineers are now preparing its partner, MetOp-SG-B1, to join it in orbit this autumn.
Working together, the two satellites carry complementary suites of instruments – 11 between them – to deliver high-resolution measurements of temperature, precipitation, clouds, winds and other key atmospheric and environmental variables.
Read full story: First MetOp Second Generation-B satellite spreads its wing