These two companies, CGS SpA Compagnia Generale per lo Spazio, a subsidiary of the listed technology group OHB SE, and Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, are planning on delivering better weather forecasts now that they have contracted for new equipment.
The contract includes the MicroWave Imager preliminary design activity, the selection of all subcontractors necessary to install the device on MetOp Second Generation (SG) weather satellites and the price conversion to firm fixed for the realization phase—the value of the contract is EUR 166 million.
The MicroWave Imager is a sophisticated instrument that will be installed on board the Satellite B series and will allow to provide Europe’s National Meteorological Services and by extension, the international users and Science Community with improved and invaluable data for meteorological and climate monitoring. CGS is responsible for the design and the development of the MWI instrument, from Phase B2 to the final in-orbit verification of three flight models, to be supplied to Airbus DS GmbH, the prime contractor of the MetOp-SG Satellite B.
When interviewed Roberto Aceti, Managing Director of CGS said, "With the responsibility for this important instrument of these satellites, CGS confirms its role as expert for sophisticated space-systems, we are delighted to contribute to the success of the MetOp-Second Generation project. The scientific information that will be provided by the MicroWave Imager with extremely high radiometric accuracy will lead to an outstanding improvement of weather forecasts and a better understanding of climate changes."'
The MetOp-SG satellites will constitute the space segment of the EUMETSAT Polar System Second Generation (EPS-SG) program that consists of two series of satellites, “Satellite A” and “Satellite B” fleet, with a nominal baseline of three units each. MetOp-SG satellites are developed as a cooperative undertaking between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT).